You might not have noticed, given that the character has featured in three other DC movies (plus three Lego animated films) and multiple TV shows (plus several others on the way in the next year or two), but we haven’t actually had a solo, non-Lego Batman movie since Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” seven years ago. But that’s going to change before long: Matt Reeves has been quietly beavering away on a rebooted version of the superhero franchise and it’s getting closer, with Thursday’s news that Robert Pattinson is in final talks to take on the Caped Crusader’s role.
The actor is reported to have beaten out the likes of Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Armie Hammer and Ansel Elgort to the role, and it’s a fascinating choice — one that would have sent the internet into an uproar in the “Twilight” years, but one that’s being largely welcomed by anyone who’s seen the excellent work that the Artist Formerly Known As R-Patz has been doing in films like “High Life” and “Good Time,” and given that he’s already had the seal of approval from Nolan, whose secretive next blockbuster Pattinson will be headlining.
Beyond that, Reeves’ approach is largely under wraps, though is said to be a “Year One”-type storyline that will focus on a younger Batman (interestingly, at 33, Pattinson is actually two years older than Christian Bale when he played the role). And a few more tidbits sneaked out last night thanks to the Hollywood Reporter’s newsletter, which have the first hints as to who R-Batz will be facing off against.
And the answer is: a whole host of villains, with the site reporting that as many as half-a-dozen foils are featured in Reeves’ script, which might make sense given the rumours that this may be a version of the character closer to the ‘world’s greatest detective’ label (and Reeves himself has hinted that he’d be taking a ‘rogues’ gallery’ approach. At least two major villains are involved, with the Penguin – not seen in live-action big-screen form since Danny DeVito played him in Tim Burton’s “Batman Returns,” said to be among them, and Catwoman also said to feature as well.
We’re sure terrible photoshop fan-casts will start to emerge before too long, but don’t expect to wait too long before we find out: shooting is planned to start late this year or early next, so further casting announcements will likely follow hot on the heels of Pattinson’s announcement. “The Batman” will hit theaters on June 25th, 2021.
