In the world of casting hotly anticipated projects, particularly those featuring one of the world’s most famous comic book heroes, the news can come thick and fast. Take The Batman, which Matt Reeves has been shepherding for a couple of years now.
Reports surfaced – from respected trade magazine Variety – that Robert Pattinson had scored the role. But, as it turns out, the situation is not quite as clear cut. Because while he’s certainly a front-runner, Warner Bros. is also considering Nicholas Hoult.
Although nothing has been finalised by Warner Bros. by the time you read this, there may have been an update and an actual decision made; for now, while Pattinson was reportedly in negotiations, he may not be the final choice.
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He’s certainly an interesting one, having swapped the blockbuster likes of the Harry Potter and, more prominently, Twilight franchises for more layered, arthouse fare.
This would be a return to high-profile, bigger-budget cinema, but in Reeves’ hands it should be something fresh.
Other reported contenders for the Caped Crusader apart from Hoult were Armie Hammer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Hoult, meanwhile, has been switching between the superhero likes of the more recent X-Men movies and films such as The Favourite and Tolkien. He can certainly handle the demands of both Bruce Wayne (who will be younger here than Ben Affleck’s version) and the Caped Crusader.
Whoever it ends up being – assuming someone else doesn’t take the role – Reeves will be aiming for a 25 June, 2021 release date.
Image: DC Films
Many fans have had surprised reactions to the announcement of Pattinson being a possibility as the next Batman. Associations with the Twilight franchise have not warmed these fans for viewing Pattinson as the classic superhero but we won’t judge this casting before we see it as Pattinson has proved himself to be a versatile actor over the years.
A lot of actors have had past roles follow them unshakably, and Edward Cullen from the Twilight saga was one such role. Watch this clip of Robert Pattinson in Twilight from 2008. Story continues after the video.
The new film with Pattinson will be a standalone movie. Affleck, who played Batman in the most recent three movies: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (watch the trailer at the top of the article), Suicide Squad and 2017’s Justice League already decided he would not return as Batman long ago.
Affleck was previous attached as the writer and director for the standalone Batman film but left the project entirely in 2017 . Reeves later confirmed that the script was being rewritten.
James White
