On Thursday, Variety reported that “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson is “going from sex symbol to bat symbol.”
According to the outlet’s sources, Pattinson is in negotiations to play Bruce Wayne/Batman in the next installment in the DC series that will be helmed by Matt Reeves, who took over the franchise after Ben Affleck officially stepped away. The film, which is expected to begin pre-production this summer, is tentatively scheduled to hit theaters June 2021.
“While sources say it’s not yet a done deal, Pattinson is the top choice and it’s expected to close shortly,” Variety reports, noting that he has been chosen “even as Reeves continues to polish a final version of the script.”
“It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale,” Reeves said of his take on the next Batman film in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in January. “It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.”
Variety provides some more details about Pattinson and his current collaboration with Warner Bros and upcoming projects (formatting adjusted):
Pattinson is about to shoot another film for WB: Christopher Nolan’s event movie co-starring John David Washington, which is set to open July 17, 2020. Pattinson has a total of four films opening this year, beginning with Claire Denis’ “High Life.” He also appears in Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse,” which bows at the Cannes Film Festival, “The King” for Netflix and “Waiting for the Barbarians.”
While Variety left the door open on the casting of Pattinson, the report was enough to send social media into one of its familiar spirals, with outrage, mockery, celebration, and actually some reasoned arguments every now and then. Below are various responses to the announcement that the former sparkling vampire is likely to be the next caped crusader, starting with a few skeptical posts:
So, that petition to fire Robert Pattinson from the Batman role should be posted in a few minutes.
Plan a Batman film around Robert Pattinson #UnlikelyWaysToGoBankrupt
I’m okay With Robert Pattinson playing Batman but if they bring is Kristen Stewart to play Catwoman I’m flipping tables.
Most of the reaction appears to be positive, with many fans stressing that Pattinson has starred in a lot more than the “Twilight” series and has proven himself a capable and hardworking actor:
Let’s not pretend that Ben Affleck, Christian Bale or Michael Keaton didn’t do some silly, not-so-good movies before putting on the cape and cowl if we’re going to try and use Twilight as basis for Pattinson not being a good choice for Batman.
Michael Keaton, Heath Ledger, Grant Gustin..
If we’ve learned ANYTHING from unique superhero castings, it’s that immediate reactions are often wrong.
Robert Pattinson is a bold choice for Bruce Wayne & I can’t wait to see him in action.
(This is coming from a lifelong Batman fan)I can’t wait for all the people who don’t know Robert Pattinson from anything other than Twilight to be stunned at how great he’s gonna be as Batman. Ridiculously excited about this casting
Robert Pattinson is a fantastic actor and he’s going to be a fantastic Batman.
Of course, the fan art is already flooding in:
But some are still noting that it’s not a done deal yet, and fellow heartthrob Nicholas Hoult is reportedly in the mix: