If it’s a third article aboutRobert Pattinsonbeing cast as Batman in the upcoming reboot you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place! While official word hasstillyet to come down from Warner Bros. (which will necessitate a fourth story, natch), the road to Battinson has actually been pretty short and straightforward, and now writer/directorMatt Reevesis chiming in.
We’ve known since January of this year thatBen Affleckwas vacating the role of Batman inThe Batman, which has hadWar for the Planet of the Apesfilmmaker Matt Reeves attached to write and direct since Affleck departed the director’s chair in 2017. While Affleck’s casting departure was only made public in January, it had been rumored for months, which means Reeves and the folks at Warner Bros. were no doubt looking at a number of actors to fill the role.
The Batmanscript focuses on a younger Batman than Affleck’s grizzled take seen inBatman v SupermanandJustice Leagueand indeed is reported to have zero connectivity with those twoZack Snyderfilms. So what we have here is a clean slate, and to that end Reeves and Warner Bros. could think big about the casting. Instead of shortlist after shortlist being reported as actors went through the sweepstakes of trying to earn the role,Variety reported on May 16ththat the role was Pattinson’s. The other trades followed up with less firm casting, noting that Pattinson was simply at the top of a shortlist that also includedNicholas HoultandArmie Hammer, but just last weekPattinson closed his dealto star as the Caped Crusader after a round of screentests (Hoult also screentested for the role, and by most accounts he was Pattinson’s top competition to win the part).
So Pattinson has reportedly closed his deal to star, and Reeves took to Twitter to share a gif of Pattinson from the actor’s stirring role in the 2017 critical darlingGood Timealong with some bat emojis. So yeah, not a lot to go on here, but this is Batman news we’re talking about, and itisthe first time the director has publicly commented on the casting of Pattinson—even if that comment is simply emojis and a gif.
But the prime choice in gif is a reminder that Pattinson is a terrific actor with tremendous range, so those who only know him from theTwilightfranchise would do well to check out films likeGood Time,The Lost City of Z, andThe Roverto see Pattinson put his chops on full display. He’s also earning raves for his work inThe WitchdirectorRobert Eggers’ new filmThe Lighthouse, which opens later this year and co-starsWillem Dafoe. Pattinson is next set to shootChristopher Nolan’s new filmTenet, which is why filming onThe Batmanhas been delayed slightly to early 2020.
So enjoy Reeves’ Twitter reaction below, and let the fan casting for the villain roles begin.The Batmanis scheduled to hit theaters on June 13, 2025.
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