Ever since Robert Pattinson starred in the trailer for Batman & Robin back in July, fans have been eagerly anticipating his upcoming portrayal of the Caped Crusader. Today, we have an exclusive first look at the latest clip from the highly anticipated upcoming movie!
It all started when the actor tweeted: “Just can’t wait to start filming. Can’t believe I get to play an american hero.” Many fans thought he was confirming Batman’s ethnicity, since Tim Burton’s classic Batman was set in America. But, in fact, he was just showing off his excitement for the upcoming movie.
Shortly after, he revealed the first look at his costume in an Instagram post, accompanied by the hashtag #batmanclip.
This was followed by the first official image from the set of Batman & Robin and the accompanying caption, “Rising from the sewers of Gotham City… #BatmanClip.” The photo showed off his sleek, streamlined costume and the yellow belt across his chest that will be a trademark of the Caped Crusader.
The costume choice immediately made him the definitive choice to play Batman, while some sources said the character is actually half-British. And while we’ve seen countless movies and TV shows set in Gotham City, we’ve never actually seen Batman as someone from outside of England.
Then, at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, fans got a glimpse of what’s in store for them when Warner Bros. premiered a new trailer for Batman & Robin and shared some exciting new information about the movie.
The trailer showed off more than just Batman and Robin meeting for the first time, as it gave us a glimpse of several other iconic superheroes, including the Rope-Apes that were featured in the original Batman comics. It also revealed the identity of one of the central villains of the movie, the Penguin.
During the trailer presentation, Warner Bros. also revealed that actor/comedian Wesley Addison, who has appeared on The Daily Show, will play the Penguin.
Let’s take a look back at some of the famous faces that have donned the cowl before, shall we?
The Dark Knight (2008)
The first big-name actor to play Batman on the silver screen was Jim Carrey, who made his debut in the 1989 movie Batman. More recently, Carrey returned to the role in The Dark Knight Rises, but this time he played a smaller part.
One of the most memorable scenes from The Dark Knight showed Carrey‘s take on the Joker, with the actor displaying an incredibly deep and complex laugh. This laugh won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The Joker (1989)
The original Joker was supposed to be played by Mark Hamill (no, not THAT Hamill) in the 1989 movie Batman, but the 86-year-old actor was unavailable, so Charlie Chaplin was brought in to take his place. It was a bit of a last-minute replacement, as the director hadn’t found the time to cast the role.
Chaplin’s Joker was very different from the one that would go on to become one of the most iconic characters in cinema history. Instead of being an unhinged murderer, the role originally went to play a trickster, a joke-telling clown who helps Batman bring down the bad guys.
There is an interesting theory that Robert Pattinson‘s character in Batman & Robin will be an homage to the Joker. It would make sense, as the actor has admitted that the character is based on the Joker. And while some think he’s joking, the fact that he has chosen to play the role of the Clown Prince of Crime in Batman & Robin might just be a big clue.
The Penguin (1966-1967)
One of the most recent actors to play the Penguin was Uma Thurland in the 2004 movie Batman Begins. But the role of the Penguin has been passed down through several different actors, beginning with Laurence Olivier, who played the character in the 1960 movie Batman, and continuing with Michael Caine in Batman Returns, and most recently, Wesley Addison in Batman & Robin.
The character became famous in the 1960s thanks to a popular Batman comic book storyline in which he fought his archenemy, the Joker. These comics introduced a more comedic element to the character and he became a fan favorite. His memorable line, “Nice car… uh, what is it, SPIDR?” became a catchphrase.
Riddler (1966)
Riddler is another character who appeared in the 60s, but he didn’t become as popular as the Penguin or the Joker. Still, he’s had a hand in some of the most memorable scenes from the Batman franchise, including the dramatic hand-off between Alfred and Bruce in the 1989 movie Batman, the shot of Robin hanging upside down from a building ledge in Batman Returns, and most recently, the bizarre fight scene in The Dark Knight involving a shark, an escalator, a plane, a tank, and…well, you get the idea.
As you can see, the Arkham series of games and the current Batman movie have featured some pretty memorable villains. But which one is the most iconic?
It’s probably too soon to tell, but Jason From TV is enjoying being the most iconic Batman villain for now.