If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a massive Batman fan or someone who knows one; if not, then maybe it’s time to become acquainted. Rob Pattinson’s phenomenal performance as the Caped Crusader in the upcoming Suicide Squad gives us an opportunity to dive deep into the actor’s personal life and examine his character from a novel perspective. Ahead, we’ll explore the nuances of Pattinson’s portrayal of the Dark Knight and how it relates to the real-life man behind the character.
Suicide Squad
After a mediocre run of lackluster films, DC’s cinematic universe has returned to form with Suicide Squad. The team-ups of classic comic book foes like Joker, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and the rest of the bad boys is what makes this movie such a treat for Batman fans and fans of the 1980s superhero comics in general. The film’s script was co-written by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Dave Callaham (The Shallows), and the duo also served as producers, giving them an intimate knowledge of the production. Suicide Squad is set to hit theaters on August 6th, 2021, so we’ll be waiting until then to see if director Gregg Bishop’s take on the DC Universe succeeds or fails as a whole.
Rob Pattinson and the Batman Mythos
The majority of our information regarding Pattinson’s life comes from his IMDB page, which is chock full of anecdotes and interesting trivia about the actor. For example, did you know that one of his first acting jobs was the Canadian TV adaption of Dennis The Menace? If you grew up in the 1980s, then yes, you probably did know that about him. He’s been in several productions set in London (notably, 2008’s Fish Hooks and 2011’s Dark Shadows), but the majority of his work since 2015 has been in the United States. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of Pattinson’s career is his take on the Batman mythos and how he has continuously rebelled against the idea that a superhero should be limited to just fighting crime. Rather than following a one-dimensional narrative, Pattinson has shaped his career around portraying a character that is complex and nuanced.
Pattinson’s first taste of superheroics came in 2004’s Spiderman 2. The British actor portrayed a young Harry Potter who, after being bitten by a spider, gains spider-like abilities. In the movie, Harry battles villain The Green Goblin (Robert Downey Jr.) while using his spider-sense to track down foes. Spidey’s arachnophobia leads him to use webs to ensnare and contain his enemies, including a full-grown ostrich. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this iteration of Spiderman is that it takes a hard look at the superhero phenomenon and how people who have never read a comic book can relate to the world of Spiderman through Harry/Peter’s eyes. In one scene, for example, Peter talks about how he is an avatar for the audience, connecting them to the story that he is telling.
The Best of Both Worlds
Pattinson’s performance as Robert Downey Jr.’s sidekick in Thor is a perfect example of the actor’s versatility. As Chris Hemsworth’s trusted friend and bodyguard, Loki, Pattinson’s role is smaller but he gets to showcase his comedic chops. On the set of the Marvel movie, the actor is seen frequently engaging in hijinks with the larger-than-life Downey, which has resulted in some impressive pranks (like using a fake penis as a sword). Even more impressively, Pattinson has been able to seamlessly blend the roles of Ironman and Thor into his own personal brand of humor.
Will This Be the Year of the Black Cat?
Pattinson’s role as the black cat in 2012’s The Purge: Anarchy is arguably his most memorable. The actor stars as the titular feline in a world where all crime is legal for one night each year, leading to some extremely bloody and violent events. The result is that this is one of the most popular movies based on a comic book among fans of the series. This is most likely because the film allows for some great character development as well as subtle political commentary on the true nature of the criminal justice system in the United States. While most people know Pattinson from his acting career, in the coming years he could become even more well-known as a result of the success of The Purge: Anarchy.
The role of a superhero is often seen as a glamorous one, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to embody a character like Batman. Even more impressively, the actor has continuously rebelled against the idea that a superhero should be limited to just fighting crime, creating complex characters who defy genre and convention. We can’t wait to see what he does next, and whether or not it’s another comic book movie, we’re pretty sure that it will be entertaining.