You’ve probably heard of the Twilight phenomenon—and if you haven’t, you probably will soon enough.
Between the wildly successful movie series and the legions of youthful fans that it’s lured in, it’s easy to see why people are so obsessed with the Vampire Chronicles. But while the Twilight movies may have made the series popular enough to warrant a clothing line, it was Rob Pattinson’s performance as the Caped Crusader in the Christopher Nolan movies that truly put him on the map.
Now the 22-year-old British actor is turning his sights to other iconic characters, including Batman, and is giving fans a glimpse of his dedication to the role with a unique and stunning workout regimen.
The British actor previously worked out with a trainer in the UK before taking on the role of Pattinson in 2010. But after only taking on the role of Batman in November 2015, he has now set out to change his routine as much as is humanly possible to ensure that he achieves the physique that will make him look like the Dark Knight for years to come.
A Change Of Routine
With filming for the Netflix series The Mandoon Chronicles temporarily suspended, the actor took the opportunity to work on his Batman fitness while on location in Morocco. As a result, his previous routine was displaced by an entirely different one.
“The last few months have been pretty crazy,” he tells GQ.
“My normal routine had gone out of the window, and now I need to replace it with something that will make me fit for my role. So, I’ve been doing a lot of research and watching a lot of Batman movies. I’ve also been doing a lot of push-ups and pull-ups to get the right physique for the part.”
An Eye On Appearance
Apart from the physical demands of acting, Pattinson also has to meet the rigid standards set by the film franchise he’s joining. This is undoubtedly a huge undertaking, especially for someone who has never before played a superhero.
“I want to look like Batman,” he says. “It’s a very unique look, and I don’t think there’s anyone else that can pull it off quite like he can. So, I guess that’s my main goal right now—to look the part and feel the part.”
To that end, Pattinson has taken to social media to show off his incredible transformation. On his Instagram account, he shares numerous workout pictures, some in costume and some in plain clothes, to show off his incredible sculpting. And it’s not just his physical appearance that’s been altered by his role; his mental state is also improved. He’s happier, more confident, and determined to succeed.
“I feel like I’ve grown as a person,” he says. “I’ve been through a lot in the last two years, and this character has taught me a lot about myself, so I feel like I’ve grown a lot as an actor, too.”
In Preparation For A Crucial Scene
While filming the upcoming fifth season of Downton Abbey in October, Pattinson was required to drop-in on set to film one scene. Fortunately, this was something he was prepared for. He had previously filmed a similar scene in The Batman, and though it was an emotional moment, it was also a critical one. It was his first scene in the series, and he was nervous as hell.
“I always get nervous before my first scene ever,” he admits. “But this time it was different. I wasn’t nervous because it was my first scene, I was nervous because it was a crucial scene—and it was one that I had been waiting for. For months I had been working toward this scene, and I knew exactly what line to give and how to act it out. So when it came time to shoot, I knew my work had paid off. I looked like Batman, and I felt like Batman. I had succeeded in my goal.”
Pattinson makes it clear that though he enjoys the privilege of playing Batman, he is also aware that this is a role that is not for the faint of heart. It’s an incredible responsibility, and one that he doesn’t take lightly. He wants to make sure that he lives up to the standards set by the Caped Crusader. And so far, so good. He had to take a break from filming The Mandoon Chronicles, but he returned to finish the final episodes for the season and to start work on the next installment.
A Never-ending Quest
Though he’s enjoyed a rise to fame that’s made him financially comfortable—he earned £350,000 for his role in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film (he also acted in the 2012 series The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2)—the actor is driven by more than just monetary rewards. He’s always searching for the next great role and the next great challenge. And for someone who grew up watching Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, he has an incredible eye for cinematic talent.
“I think it really started when I was 14,” he says. “I saw a documentary about the making of Schindler’s List, and I was absolutely blown away. I had never really thought about acting before, but after that I knew this is what I wanted to do.”
Pattinson also cites the British crime-fighting TV show The Professionals, which he describes as “the biggest influence” on his life and career, as the reason behind his newfound love for crime fiction. In fact, while on set for the latest Twilight film, Pattinson admitted he was “bitterly jealous” of Edward Cullen’s ability to grow a full head of hair, saying he would give anything to be able to do the same.
“I wish I could have hair as long as Edward’s,” he says. “To me, his hair is perfection.”
Preparing For His Close-up
Though he is undoubtedly best known for his role as Robert Pattinson in the Twilight films, the actor is clearly passionate about more than just film. A self-proclaimed bookworm who spends his downtime reading, Pattinson has also revealed that he has plans to write a book. He’s currently working on a memoir, and though he isn’t spilling the beans just yet, he did say that he’s “writing about the influence of art, music and literature” on his life and career. He also cited the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald—The Great Gatsby—as inspiration for his first novel, published in 2013 under the pseudonym Delta Goodrem.
Fitting In With Edward Cullen
Apart from preparing for his role as the Dark Knight, Pattinson has also tried to fit in with the famous Twilight clan by taking a trip to their native New Moon, located in the heart of the Scottish countryside. But while he may be a hit with the fans, the British actor found the experience “tense.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to being stared at,” he says. “People were just kind of staring at me wherever I went. It was kind of uncomfortable, to be honest. But it was also kind of exciting. I guess you never really know how much fans appreciate what you do until you don’t do it anymore.”
The actor admits that though it’s been fun to be a part of the Twilight phenomenon, he is also eager to move on to other projects.
“I want to keep playing characters that I feel passionate about,” he says. “I don’t want to stick to one role forever. I want to keep expanding my repertoire and showing the industry what I can do.”
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