Robert Pattinson Reveals Why He Refused to Play Batman as a ‘Playboy’
One way The Batman separates itself from other movies about the Dark Knight is how Robert Pattinson portrayed Bruce Wayne. Most films depicted Bruce as a playboy billionaire by day, and at night he became a serious vigilante as Batman. But in the latest movie, Pattinson’s character strayed from the norm, and the actor explained why.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from The Batman.]
How Robert Pattinson’s Batman is different from other portrayals of the vigilante
The Batman detailed Bruce Wayne’s second year as the Dark Knight. So he wasn’t as experienced as some fans are used to seeing in movies. Bruce hadn’t yet figured out how to be both a billionaire and a vigilante, which impeded his personal life and his superhero one.
The movie shows the insecurities and flaws of Batman during the early stages of his vigilantism. Bruce has always been imperfect, but The Batman shined a light on some of his different struggles.
Robert Pattinson played Bruce Wayne similar to how he portrayed Batman. He was the “emo kid” who didn’t quite fit in. Bruce was reclusive and determined to make a difference in Gotham as Batman. It was a wildly different approach to the popular superhero, but it paid off because fans have been loving Pattinson in the role.
Robert Pattinson comments on Bruce’s lack of a playboy persona in ‘The Batman’
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Robert Pattinson explained why Bruce wasn’t a playboy in The Batman.
“When you think about Bruce Wayne, you kind of think he’s a playboy, and then that’s how he disguises himself, so no one knows he’s Batman,” the actor said. “As soon as you take that away, it made the character almost make more sense.”
Pattinson added, “There’s something about a person who would be able to delineate three incredibly distinct personalities, and then just being able to switch them as an outfit at will. That’s really way more sociopathic than someone who doesn’t really have much more control over it and is compelled to put this suit on. It’s kind of out of his control a little bit.”
“Also, it made more sense with the grieving process as well if he hasn’t gotten over being the 10-year-old boy who, in his mind, let his parents die,” he concluded. “What he feels is himself, he thinks is an incredibly weak and vulnerable child. And he needs to have an entirely different alter ego to survive himself, let alone fight all the criminals of Gotham.”
Even though Bruce is not a playboy in The Batman, Robert Pattinson will likely have the chance to develop the character in a sequel.
Warners Bros. is developing a sequel
While on the red carpet of The Batman premiere in London, director Matt Reeves told The Independent that a sequel is in the works.
“You don’t make [movie] number one as if there’s going to be number two,” the director revealed. “You have to make number one as if you are swinging for the fences, and it has to be a movie that stands and lives on its own. But I really believe in what we’ve done.”
Reeves added, “And I’d be excited to tell more stories, and we are already telling other stories in the streaming space. We’re doing stuff on HBO Max. We’re doing a Penguin show with Colin [Farrell], which is going to be super cool. And we’re doing some other stuff too, but we have started talking about another movie. But right now, we’ll just put it out in the world. I’ll try to enjoy this.”
As for what The Batman sequel might entail, Robert Pattinson believes the Court of Owls could appear.
The Batman is now playing in theaters.
