When it comes to pop culture, nobody does it better than the English. From The Beatles to Harry Potter, from The Descendants to Downton Abbey, they have a knack for infusing daily life with a film or TV show theme.
Case in point: Robert Pattinson, best known for his role as Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga, is now starring in The Batman. This is the first time the 35-year-old has played a superhero and he’s taking the character seriously, even donning the mask and trying on the cowl during press days for the film.
So, who is Robert Pattinson behind the scenes of The Batman? We spoke to the English actor about his exciting new role, taking on a superhero and preparing for the role of his life. Check out what he had to say.
An Exciting New Role For Pattinson
As previously alluded to, Pattinson is best known for his role as Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga. The latter part of that movie franchise—The Breaking Dawn—ends with a very emotional scene in which Edward and Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s real-life spouse) say goodbye for the final time. And what a goodbye it is. Edward walks out into the sunset with his family behind him, while Bella stays behind to look after their child, Emmett, whose birth is shown in a tender moment at the end of the film.
Since then, he’s appeared in several high-profile movies, the most recent of which being Life of Pi. But with the exception of that film, Pattinson has largely stayed away from big-budget studio movies, instead opting to take on small independent productions, often based on novels or short stories by Charles Dickens. The latter will be the case with The Batman. Based on the DC Comics character, Batman was first published in 1939 and continues to be one of the most popular superhero adaptations of all time, with more than 75million movies and television shows having been made around the world. The Batman is one of the most popular superhero adaptations of all time, with more than 75million movies and television shows having been made around the world.
The opportunity to play the iconic superhero came to Pattinson via a casting call for a feature film entitled Batman. Described by the director as a “maverick millionaire playboy,” the English actor immediately jumped at the chance to play the part.
“I’ve always loved the character,” he told us. “I don’t know why exactly, but I remember being really moved by him when I was a kid. Even now, I find him quite an affecting figure.”
In the original comics, Bruce Wayne is the millionaire playboy who donates his wealth to good causes and becomes a legendary crime fighter, protecting the innocent and punishing evildoers, all while dressed in a plain blue suit with a white shirt and red tie. Pattinson’s performance as the caped crusader will be closely examined by fans looking for an accurate portrayal of the character. In the comics, most of Batman’s combat scenes are set in a large, open city, with little in the way of special effects or large sets. So, fans of the character can rest assured that director Matt Reeves has pulled out all the stops to make sure that the scenes have that iconic comic book feel, as close to the original as possible.
An Acting Career In The Making
After spending eight years living in New York City, Pattinson decided to return to his home on the south coast. Though he’s been in London since 2008, acting has always been a part of his life. He trained at the Central Saint Martins university and performed in several plays in London’s West End.
In fact, a decade ago, he was even offered the role of James Bond, which he eagerly turned down. When it comes to working in film and television, Pattinson doesn’t see himself as some Hollywood export, but as an integral part of the British film industry. This is evidenced by the fact that many of his colleagues from his training and early career are now working with him on The Batman. Notable names like Sean Bean, Colin Salmon, and Michael Caine have joined the cast of the movie, while Ant and Dec, one of the longest-running English comedy duos of all time, will serve as his co-producers. And of course, Reeves and Simpson are both English.
“The thing I love about Matt is that he understands. He gets it,” said Pattinson of the director. “He gets that this is someone’s childhood dream and that he’s finally giving it to them.”
Reeves and Simpson are among the most successful filmmakers of this generation, having helmed some of the highest-grossing films of all time, with Life of Pi being the highest-grossing film of all time, until 2017, when it was surpassed by the Marvel Studios’ Black Panther. With a career spanning almost 20 years, the prolific director is no stranger to big-budget blockbusters and can boast an impressive list of credits, including The Hobbit, Happy Feet, Letters From Iwo Jima, and the Oscar-nominated Flight. His work has garnered him several awards, including a BAFTA for Best Direction and a Golden Globe for Best Director. He is also a two-time Oscar nominee.
Simpson, one of the most successful British comedy directors of all time, started out in the industry more than 20 years ago and has gone on to film some iconic comedic moments, the best-known probably being the “will they, won’t they” scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral. This scene, which sees Penelope Keith playfully pursuing Richard Simmons, eventually leading to their first kiss, is one of the most famous “will they, won’t they” scenes of all time. Even now, after all these years, it’s considered one of the most iconic moments in British comedy.
A Serious Actor, A Serious Role
For those hoping for a romantic subplot between Pattinson and Stewart, they will be sorely disappointed. Though they’re both attractive, mature individuals, Stewart is actually the older of the two by three years. Hence, this will mark the first time that she plays a love interest for a lead character. Otherwise, she’s always played a younger woman, either a student or a co-ed.
Despite this, she’s taking the role of Kate Kane, the billionaire heiress and famous romance novelist, quite seriously.
“It’s always nice to play a romantic lead, so I guess it can’t hurt,” she quipped when speaking about her new role. “But it feels like a really interesting and defining part of my character; it sets up something quite unique. I think it makes her quite an original role model.”
Indeed, this will mark the first time that we see Kate, as played by Stewart, in a serious light. She’s always been portrayed as an appealing, if somewhat flighty, young woman, which is what made her such an attractive leading lady for her time. Now, however, Kate has evolved into a strong, independent woman, who refuses to be defined by her romantic relationships. Though she is shown to have several love interests over the course of the story—from a handsome yachting captain to a mysterious, older businessman—she refuses to get attached, ultimately leading her to a committed, long-term partnership with tech billionaire Victor Faubert.
As previously stated, The Batman is based on the DC Comics character, Batman. The latter part of that movie franchise—The Breaking Dawn—ends with a very emotional scene in which Edward and Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s real-life spouse) say goodbye for the final time. And what a goodbye it is. Edward walks out into the sunset with his family behind him, while Bella stays behind to look after their child, Emmett, whose birth is shown in a tender moment at the end of the film.
Though it was initially reported that she would not have any scenes with her real-life spouse, Emma Watson, who plays Victor Faubert’s assistant, Melody, recently clarified that this is not the case. “I do have scenes with Robert,” she said. “I play a very small part, but it’s a fun part and I think it helps make the story more interesting.”