It looks like Matt Reeves could be closing in on finding the perfect man to play Batman!
Update: On Friday, May 31, Deadline confirmed that Pattinson is WB’s choice to play Batman. Both Pattinson and Hoult screen-tested for the role “because this is such a big decision on a cornerstone Warner Bros DC franchise.”
If you’re skeptical about Pattinson, check out these five movies.
Original Story (May 16): According to Deadline, actors Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult are the two frontrunners to play the Caped Crusader himself in director Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
News that Reeves could be zeroing in on the perfect candidate to pick up the mantle now that Affleck has officially bowed out started spreading on Thursday (May 16) afternoon.
Originally, Variety had reported that a source close to the project had confirmed to them that Pattinson had officially scored the coveted role.
Shortly after news broke, Deadline swooped in stating that while no decision had officially been made, Reeves had narrowed his choice down to Pattinson and Hoult.
In addition to stating that the decision would come down to the two Brits, Deadline also reported that Pattinson has a slight edge over the competition.
Though we’re sure the internet will have their own opinions on which of the two actors they’d prefer to see pick up the mantle, there’s no denying both Pattinson and Hoult are more than qualified.
Both stars have experience working with blockbuster franchises, with Hoult having starred as Hank McCoy (better known by his mutant moniker, Beast) in multiple X-Men films.
Meanwhile, Pattinson played Cedric Diggory in the fourth installment of the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. From there, Pattinson shot to hearthtrob status playing Edward Cullen in all five Twilight films.
The move would be especially interesting for Pattinson in general given that the actor has stayed away from big budget blockbusters in favor of working on indie films ever since The Twilight Saga wrapped. With that in mind, we’re sure fans would jump at the chance to see the actor step into another huge franchise such as Batman.
Exact plot details for the upcoming film are pretty scarce, but Reeves, who in addition to directing will also pen the script for The Batman, has dropped a few interesting hints.
The last we heard of the script, Reeves’ plan was to veer away from rehashing the superhero’s origin story — something sure to please fans who’ve grown tired of seeing it redone over and over again on the big screen.
Speaking on the script at the 2018 TCA presentation for The Passage, Reeves said:
“I’m just excited to be focused on a tale that’s defying for [Batman] and is very personal to him, but at the same time we’re really — obviously we’re not doing any origin tales or anything like that — but definitely Batman, emotional, and him being the world’s greatest detective.”
The Batman is scheduled to hit theaters on June 29, 2021.
Who would you like to see play Batman? Let us know in the comments below!