Who hasn’t seen the news, seen a movie, or been paying close attention to social media in the past few months? All of us. It seems like everyone’s favorite superhero, Batman, died and was miraculously resurrected. And what’s a better way to celebrate this event than by teaming up with one of the biggest names in Hollywood, Robert Pattinson?
The actor, best known for his collaboration with Kristen Stewart in the Twilight Saga movies and for his role in Quentin Tarantulinu’s Diabolical, had some interesting things to say about playing Batman in the upcoming standalone Batman movie, aptly titled, The Batman.
In an interview with Empire (via Comicbook), Pattinson discusses playing the Dark Knight Detective, and whether or not he’d like to play him again:
On Playing Batman:
“It was a very interesting, difficult, and not so easy character to play,” said Pattinson. “We didn’t get the chance to work a lot on Batman, because we were filming [Twilight] Eclipse, so it was more like an action-adventure movie… I think in some ways, it was a bit of a rush, because we didn’t really have enough time to properly flesh out Batman’s world. We were filming it pretty quickly, and I think that in later movies, the character will have more backstory and will grow more, and there will be more time to explore the world and its architecture.”
Pattinson also touched on whether or not he’s up for reprising the role again, saying:
“I wouldn’t say no, but I don’t know if it’s the right opportunity, either. I mean, they could do something where they bring him up to date with what’s going on, but they’re not gonna show us his whole life, are they? So, it’s not like the old days, where they would just show up and then we would see them fighting crime every day. They’re not gonna give us that luxury.”
On The Standalone Nature Of The Batman Movie:
Although The Batman is touted as a standalone movie, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have tie-ins or references to the DC Extended Universe. Indeed, it seems as though director Matt Reeves is playing fast and loose with the source material, borrowing liberally from storylines in the Batman comics and putting his own spin on it.
“There are certain things that you cannot do in a movie, unless it’s been established in the comics, that Batman does exist, that he’s been active, and that he’s fighting crime,” said Reeves. “You know, you can’t just show up and start punching people in the street, like in the [1968 William] Castle movie. So, in this movie, we’ll be seeing a lot more action, and we’ll be seeing Batman in a place and in a situation that hasn’t been established before.”
Pattinson’s Batman may be slightly older and more experienced than the Dark Knight that fans know and love, having appeared in multiple storylines involving the Dark Knight and having fought alongside him in the pages of the comics. But it’s still early days yet, and it seems that the actor has a lot more to learn about portraying the Caped Crusader. When asked about this, Reeves stated:
“This is a very important thing to recognize; this is not your typical ‘boys will be boys’ and ‘bravo’ kind of a movie, where the boys are just acting out,” said Reeves. “This is actually a very mature, psychological thriller. It’s not like a cartoon; it’s not funny. It’s meant to be taken very seriously, and that’s a good thing.”
On His Own Performance:
Pattinson himself was praised for his portrayal of the Caped Crusader, particularly for his interactions with co-stars Ben McKenzie (an American actor who plays DC villain Deadshot) and Rosie Perez (Shogun). So it’s no surprise that Reeves felt as though his leading man deserved an award for his performance.
“I think [Pattinson] did a wonderful job,” said Reeves. “I think he managed to show both sides of Batman: the darkness and the light. I think he showed vulnerability and rage, and I think he was wonderful at showing both sides, in the scenes where he’s interacting with people. I think he’s a great actor, and he really did a fantastic job.”
Future Of The Character:
With Marvel Studios cranking out hit after hit, there’s no doubt that the popularity of Batman will go down in history. And while many may argue that the Dark Knight has been the underdog for most of his existence, it’s clear that Reeves intends to change all of that with The Batman. While some may see this as a negative, it’s clear that this is a very positive development for fans of the character.
When asked about his plans for The Batman, Reeves said:
“I would love to keep developing the character and exploring him,” said Reeves. “Because he’s so rich and full of potential and could have so much more to say. So, if there’s a will, there’s a way; we’ll see.”
Whether or not Reeves’ plans for The Batman will come to fruition remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: Matt Reeves has managed to place himself among the greatest of all time with the Dark Knight, and it’s fair to say that he’s managed to do this thanks, in part, to the collaborative efforts of lead actor Robert Pattinson.