The highly anticipated sequel to last year’s surprise blockbuster release Love is due out in just over a week, and though it won’t have the same effect as the original on everyone, it should still do pretty well.
The latest news coming out of filming is that Robert Pattinson, who plays the titular character in the movie, has been spotted on set in full Batman regalia. Excited fans have taken to Twitter to express their delight at seeing the Bane finally suiting up, but some critics have derided the image as a marketing ploy to get people excited about the film.
Here, we’ll talk you through the significance of this image, what it means for fans, and whether or not you’ll actually see Batman in action.
The Rumor: Is It True?
The first sign that something was up came when a photo of Pattinson in full costume began circulating on Twitter on Wednesday.
The image quickly made its way around the micro-blogging site, with users excitedly comparing it to previously released photos of the actor in costume and discussing the possibility that it was a marketing ploy to drum up interest in Batman Returns.
The excitement grew as more and more photos began popping up, each one showing off a new piece of Batman lore: the cape, the cowl, the tights, and in some cases, the mask as well.
Why Is He Wearing That Stuff?
It’s no secret that Batman is one of the most popular movie characters of all time, so it’s not really a huge surprise to see films based on his adventures being popular year after year. And, while it’s great to see an actor playing a character with such a positive influence on the film industry, it also means that there will inevitably be merchandising tie-ins.
When we first saw the image of Pattinson on set, many fans assumed that he was portraying the Caped Crusader for one of the film’s many crossovers; maybe with the Dynamic Duo or even the extended Marvel Cinematic Universe?
But, while there are certainly similarities between the two characters, the outfit doesn’t exactly match up. For one, Batman’s cape is blue, not white as in the photo. And though it’s lined with grey, it’s not completely covered in the character’s signature color. The actor isn’t wearing any sort of mask either; a clear glass eye is all that separates him from the Hollywood actor stereotype.
The Significance
While it would be the ultimate Christmas present if Batman returned for a sequel and decided to give us all a glimpse of his crime-fighting skills, knowing how popular he is among the Twitterati, it’s more likely that the actor is just doing his job. And his job, as it turns out, is to draw attention to the big-budget horror movie that he’s working on, which is currently in post-production.
So while we wait for Warner Bros. to officially announce the upcoming sequel, it’s probably best to take a step back and let this exciting moment pass without much thought into it. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not like there’s any wrong answer here – he’s playing a popular character, after all, and it’s what he’s been asked to do.
Will We See Batman In Action?
Though it’s not exactly a confirmation, it’s pretty close. Director Danny Boyle has just tweeted an image that strongly suggests that he did in fact get to see Batman in action. And not just any Batman either, but the one and only Mr. Wayne himself – sorry, Tom – in all his 80s glory.
In the photo, which was taken at the end of a long day of shooting, Boyle can be seen holding a drink as he takes a break from directing traffic during a chaotic Los Angeles street festival. A common sight at any large gathering in the city, the festival was put on by the festival organizers to promote Batman, and though the majority of people were there to celebrate the film, there were also some who were there to catch a glimpse of the Dark Knight. And, based on Boyle’s relaxed attitude in the photo and his previous comments about the film, it seems that he had as much fun shooting Batman as we did watching him onscreen.
Thoughts?