Twilight star Robert Pattinson has reportedly been chosen by Warner Bros. and director Matt Reeves to play Batman.
Following news of a further delay in The Batman’s production, casting news for the film wasn’t expected until later this summer. But, writer/director Matt Reeves appears to have zeroed in on his selection for the Dark Knight.
According to Variety, Twilight star Robert Pattinson is close to securing the coveted lead role of a young Bruce Wayne/Batman. They reported he is still in the talks stage but a deal should be made shortly.
In fact, we reported back in February that Pattinson had been rumored for the role.
It’s been known for quite some time Reeves was pursuing a younger actor for the part — around the late 20s or early 30s — to delve into the vigilante’s early days of caped crusading. Names like Oscar Isaac, Armie Hammer, and Jack O’ Connell came up time and again. Some pegged O’Connell as the odds-on favorite.
Pattinson fits that bill and then some. At 6’1″ and just turning 33, he has the right size and age range to fulfill the desired character breakdown. Besides that surface issue, he is much more talented and accomplished actor than his teen idol past leads skeptics to believe.
He stood out in a handful of performances as deep but troubled individuals in dramas such as [easyazon_link identifier=”B0722HZ2TW” locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]The Lost City of Z[/easyazon_link], Good Time, Remember Me, and [easyazon_link identifier=”B078J1GQW1″ locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]Cosmopolis[/easyazon_link]. At one time, he played the eccentric surrealist painter Salvador Dali.
He’s worked opposite celebrated director David Cronenberg and others including Francis Lawrence have put his chops to good use. Pattinson has even been brought up to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Leaving behind his heart-throb past long ago, nothing weighed Pattinson down for consideration. British, he’s in good company when it comes to actors taking on superhero roles, especially Batman.
Reeves may have had him in mind all along yet the script is still being worked out. Turning in yet another draft, it could be the director has his hands full with all the villains he is rumored to be utilizing, a list topped by The Penguin.
Pre-production on The Batman will start in the summer with principal photography getting underway sometime close to next year. The release date is June 25, 2021.
Along with Batman, Pattinson is expected to star in Christopher Nolan’s next film. He will appear in four films this coming year including High Life, The Lighthouse, The King, and Waiting for the Barbarians.
What do you make of this casting decision? Do you think this is a home run for Warner Bros.? Or do you think they made a terrible decision?