Outside of what Marvel Studios has planned for the year, DC fans have one of their most anticipated projects right around the corner: The Batman. Directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, the film will be the first solo outing for the Dark Knight since 2012. However, what makes it even more exciting for many is how it is unburdened from the weight of the DCEU's continuity—something many fans think could use some work.
This means it is just The Caped Crusader's world and rogue gallery, harkening back to the basics. Along for the ride are Zoe Kravitz's Catwoman and Jeffery Wright's James Gordon. Amongst other villains, the big bad set to terrorize Gotham this time around is none other than the Riddler, played by Paul Dano.
As is the tradition at this point, there was some hesitancy when Pattinson was cast as the Dark Knight, although not nearly as much as fans saw with Ben Affleck's announcement.
In 2020, the actor gave an interview regarding taking over this new iconic role where he mentioned how he wasn't working out to embody his version of Batman to screens. Needless to say, this angered some people. Thankfully, the actor has now admitted that it was a lie—albeit an unintentional one.
Robert Pattinson Has A Confession
In an interview with MovieMaker Magazine, Robert Pattinson addressed the infamous rumor that he never worked out for his role as the Dark Knight in The Batman. It all comes from a previous discussion with GQ during the 2020 lockdown where the actor jokingly stated that he didn't work out constantly in preparation for the role—except nobody took it as a joke.
Pattinson laughed and humorously noted, "if you're working out all the time, you're part of the problem." He went on to admit in all honesty how "that really came back to haunt [him]:"
“That really came back to haunt me. I just always think it’s really embarrassing to talk about how you’re working out... I think it’s like an English thing. Unless you are in the most unbelievable shape, where people are just genuinely curious, going, ‘How have you achieved, like, physical perfection?’ or whatever.”
The actor went on to declare that "[he's] playing Batman. [He] has to work out:"
“You’re playing Batman. You have to work out... I think I was doing the interview when I was in lockdown, as well, in England. … I was in a lower gear of working out.”
This isn't the first time a sarcastic comment didn't land for Pattinson; another has been haunting him "for 15 years:"
“It’s the same thing as saying in an interview when I was like 21 that I didn’t wash my hair,” he laughs. “It just sticks for 15 years.”
The Batman Does Work Out
Dry sarcasm and humor don't always click with people, particularly in a printed interview, and it looks like Robert Pattinson is learning that the hard way. But hey, for those who were truly worried: he works out! Fans can now rest easy.
It's hard to believe there were any skeptics after the first teaser. After the second trailer, it's near impossible to see how there could be any doubters about the actor's physicality; Pattinson truly embodies the role. Bruce Wayne's anger is clear as day, and his fighting tactics brutal—and these observations are just from teaser trailers.
The film is just over a month away, and the restlessness from fans worldwide is becoming apparent. Viewers might be happy to know then that they might have a three-hour adventure with the Caped Crusader ahead of them—at least, that's what the newest leaked runtime reveals, with the film clocking in at two hours and fifty-five minutes.
If this is true, it will make it the longest solo film the Dark Knight has ever had. It looks like Gotham may need a lot of saving.
