Robert Pattinson is best known for his portrayal of the tragic vampire, Edward Cullen, in the Twilight Saga films. He’s since gone on to play other roles in notable films like The Great Gatsby, The Lost Boys, and The Dark Knight. But how did he get the role of Batman in The Lego Movie? Let’s take a look.
Early Days
As we learned from his superb performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, Don’t Breathe, Robert Pattinson has a knack for embodying a character. He almost immediately gained recognition for his performance as Stephen Malkin / The Numberer in the independent film, Lights Out. Although he doesn’t appear in the movie, it’s safe to assume that anyone who watches it will instantly recognize him as Malkin. While promoting his new movie, What If, director Christian Rivers revealed that Malkin was originally pitched to him as a superhero and that the actor was immediately onboard.
Before we know it, he’s playing Batman in The Lego Movie, which hits theaters this month. It’s a great opportunity for him, as he gets to demonstrate his dramatic range. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Pattinson talked about taking on the iconic DC Comics character and how he sees himself as a part of the DC Universe.
“I think the biggest thing is that he is the ultimate outsider,” said Pattinson. “He’s not affiliated with any one group or cause. So for me, that’s the biggest appeal. It allows us to have this complex relationship.”
The Ultimate Outsider
Pattinson continues, “There’s something about the way that he stands for what he believes in that makes me admire him. In a world where we’re constantly being bombarded with messages to conform and believe the same, I think that he embodies a very classic, very human, very independent spirit that I find incredibly appealing.”
Indeed, Batman is a man of many identities. Although he wears a mask, we know that he is Bruce Wayne because his parents were killed by a mugger when he was a child. However, we also know that he is Batman because he puts on the mask and fights crime. Wayne is, in other words, the reason why Batman exists. So it is fitting that a man with such a diverse personal history would be the one to portray the iconic DC Comics character.
Passionate About Improving Lives
One of the reasons why people love Edward Cullen so much is that he cares so much about people and what they need. In Twilight, he sacrifices his life for Bella Swan’s. He dies at the end of the novel because she doesn’t want to lose him. But he’s not really gone until she feels that she’s truly alone and that there’s no one left who cares about her. Edward’s compassion and selflessness are what make him such a great character. It’s the same with Batman. While he does fight crime and saves lives, he also wants to help people.
“It’s great that he fights crime and is passionate about helping people,” said Pattinson. “That’s something that I see resonating with people and I believe will be appreciated because it’s something that isn’t easy to find in a character these days. You know, it’s not something that’s necessarily on the surface, but it’s something that you have to find.”
Pattinson is a man of many talents. He not only has the physical appearance of an angel, but he also has the acting chops to back it up. He makes us believe in magic even when it’s physically impossible. He’s an enigma wrapped in an exquisite package. We can’t wait to see what roles he’ll play next!