For as long as we’ve been able to hold a camera, celebrities have turned up in superhero costumes. It started with the famous ‘Superman’ actor, Christopher Reeve, who tragically drowned in 2014 but who was immortalised by the role he played. Since then, many famous faces have donned the guise of a superhero, including Nicolas Cage and Henry Winkler. Most recently, in August this year, we were treated to the sight of Benedict Cumberbatch as the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, stepping out in front of the London cameras wearing full armour and cape.
But it wasn’t just famous faces that people were interested in seeing in their favourite superhero outfit. Since the inception of the superhero genre in the 1940s, fans have desperately wanted to see their heroes’ outfits worn by real-life people. Enter Patrick Pattinson. The actor, best known for portraying Hugo Strange in the ‘Batman’ series, has made the effort to don the cape and cowl for Twitter users keen to see more from the character.
Pattinson as Batman
If you’ve seen ‘Batman’ (2012), than you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when I say that Patrick Pattinson does an excellent impersonation of the caped crusader. If you haven’t, then let me just say that it’s a comic book adaptation of Batman, and if you’re not familiar with it, then this probably isn’t the place for you. But regardless, if you’ve seen it or not, then you’ll know exactly what I’m getting at when I talk about how great Pattinson does as Batman.
The character designer for the film, Jim Lee, said in an interview that it was important for the film that Batman was portrayed by a British actor and that for the most part, Pattinson nailed it. Lee went on to say that he believed that most people would consider Pattinson to be the definitive Batman, comparing his portrayal to the comic books and to Alan Moore’s original ‘Batman’ graphic novels.
The Costumes Are Stunning
On the other hand, it’s difficult to talk about Pattinson’s performance as Batman without giving major credit to the costumes that he wears in the role. As I’ve already mentioned, in August this year Benedict Cumberbatch donned the armour and cape for the crimefighter in a special appearance at the London Olympics for the Netflix series ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. But even before Cumberbatch donned the cape and armour, Pattinson had already begun to capture the essence of the character with just his costumes. In fact, as I understand it, Cumberbatch based his outfit, in part, on Pattinson’s outfits from ‘Batman’ (2012).
And it’s not just Cumberbatch’s outfit that was inspired by ‘Batman’. Since the inception of the superhero genre in the 1940s, fans have admired the way in which the caped crusader wears his outfits and have eagerly awaited the opportunity to see their favourite characters’ outfits worn by famous faces. For that reason, some people consider ‘Batman’ (2012) to be one of the greatest superhero films of all time. It’s difficult to argue with that logic.
More At The Gym, Fewer At The Table
While most celebrities try to keep their bodies as smooth and as shiny as possible, it’s clear that Patrick Pattinson exercises regularly to maintain that iconic ‘Batman’ physique. Even as a virtual stranger, it’s easy to spot that he puts in a lot of work at the gym. This fact was confirmed by none other than the film’s director, Ben Affleck, in a recent interview with The Guardian. When asked if he ever put his own celebrity spin on any of the characters, Affleck replied: “Patrick Pattinson is an unbelievable Batman. He’s dedicated his life to being the best Batman he can be. People ask me all the time if I think he’s a little bit too much like me.”
Indeed, the 44-year-old actor has been portraying Batman for almost twenty years now and has committed himself fully to the character. Before he took on the role of Batman in ‘Batman’ (2012), Pattinson starred in the 2005 series, ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’, and in the 1999 TV mini-series, ‘The New Adventures of Robin Hood’. On the big screen, he appeared in the 2002 film, ‘Bucket List’, the 2007 comedy, ‘Avengers’, and an episode of ‘Dexter’.
Pattinson’s Inspiration For The Role
But while he may play Batman for fun and profit, it’s clear that Patrick Pattinson has taken on the role of the crimefighter with a great deal of care and attention to detail. And like most other great performances, it’s clear that his career in the spotlight has not gone to waste. In fact, he’s used his time in the limelight to educate people about mental health issues and to raise money for mental health charities. He’s even participated in celebrity marathons for those same causes. So it’s fair to say that his efforts on behalf of charities and in the name of mental health mean that he’s done a great deal of good in the world. It’s clear that he takes the role of superhero seriously – not just as a way of making money, but as a symbol of hope and a source of inspiration.
Why Is He Wearing A Mask?
But for as long as he’s been in the public eye, people have been curious about his mysterious past. Even as a virtual stranger, it’s clear that Patrick Pattinson keeps a very private life, which is perhaps why he chose to don the mask in the first place. In the same way that other famous faces have worn the mask for creative inspiration (Reeve and Cage), perhaps Pattinson chose to wear a mask because he feels that it helps him to focus on the parts of himself that he wants to share with the world. Or maybe he just likes the way it looks. Either way, the fact that he wears a mask doesn’t exactly make him a stranger. So while it may be strange to see a celebrity in a superhero costume, it’s not exactly a stranger concept. At least not yet.