ROBERT Pattinson had never been interested in playing a superhero -- until Ben Affleck quit his role as Batman, leaving the famous cape unexpectedly up for grabs.
Having spent the past decade mainly working on critically acclaimed arthouse movies, former "Twilight" actor Pattinson requested a meeting with the filmmakers entrusted by Warner Bros. to revitalize the beloved franchise.
"He sought me out... and somewhere in that meeting, he brought up Batman," producer Dylan Clark told AFP.
Although Pattinson, now 35, appeared to feel "a little bit suspiciously" about fronting a "giant big studio movie" again, he was "genuinely interested in the character of Batman and Bruce Wayne," said Clark.
"And he has that jawline, so that was very helpful!" added Clark.
The result is "The Batman," out in US theaters on March 4, starring Pattinson and directed by Clark's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" collaborator Matt Reeves.
It finds Bruce Wayne in only his second year as Batman, when his nocturnal detective work has not yet earned him the trust of Gotham's police or public.
Pattinson's vigilante is still figuring out his tactics and his motivations for stalking the dystopian city's criminals, and his famous villain-busting gadgets are still rough prototypes.
Even compared to Christopher Nolan's gritty trilogy starring Christian Bale, "The Batman" is notable for its macabre, noirish tone.
Batman himself cuts a forlorn, almost depressive figure, partially inspired by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, whose music also features prominently in the soundtrack.
Pattinson, fresh from a supporting role in Nolan's mega-budget sci-fi film "Tenet," "wanted to play a part that was physical," recalled Clark.
"What he didn't know was that Matt's script was going to take that character on an emotional-physical ride, and that he was going to really have to put himself through the wringer."
- 'Disgruntled' -
This Batman, Clark added, "is a dark hero and he can sometimes come across as an antihero. Vengeance definitely fuels his drive."
The film finds Batman on the heels of the Riddler (Paul Dano) -- a serial killer in the sinister style of the real-life Zodiac Killer, or the recent Netflix true-crime series "Mindhunter."
The Riddler claims to be impelled by a sense of justice against Gotham's corrupt elite, and his crimes -- broadcast on social media -- attract a cult-like following among the city's disaffected and disenfranchised.
"Matt wrote this script two years before we went into production (in 2020). I think it was just looking at our world and our landscape and the things that were going on," said Clark.
"The best part about Gotham is it's a mirror to our societies. And I think it was a representation of these people that are feeling on the fringes, and they're disgruntled."
While Clark insists "we're certainly not trying to be political" or "sensational," the movie carries the message that "the world needs faith in their elected officials."
- 'Terrifying' -
Pattinson takes over the role from Affleck, whose appearances as Batman in two DC Comics-based ensemble superhero movies -- "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Justice League" -- were poorly received by fans.
Affleck had written, and was also due to direct, a standalone Batman movie, but ultimately withdrew entirely from the franchise at a turbulent time in his personal life, including renewed struggles with alcoholism and his divorce from Jennifer Garner.
"We had come in at a time of transition," said Clark.
"DC had to have some transition. And Ben, I think, was looking at his life, and reflected on where he wanted to be, and made that decision on his own."
Recasting Batman allowed the filmmakers to attempt a "fresh new take" on a franchise that has existed in some form for eight decades.
"Matt's idea was 'Let's try to introduce this new Batman in a place where we have never seen before,'" said Clark.
"It's the most exciting proposition but it's also one of the most terrifying," he added.
"You have to set out with great ambition, because the title, the character, the history is so large.
"The demand is, 'You'd better try to make a great Batman or we're going to hate you.'"
ETX Studio
Tue Mar 01 2022
"The Batman" is out in US theaters on March 4, starring Robert Pattinson. - Copyright 2021 Warner Bros photo
MoT pantau rapi situasi letusan Gunung Ruang - Loke
Setakat ini letusan gunung berapi berkenaan telah menjejaskan sedikit ruang udara di Tawau, Sabah menyebabkan beberapa penerbangan ke daerah itu terpaksa dilencongkan.
SPRM Kelantan tahan pegawai kanan KADA buat tuntutan palsu
Lelaki berusia 40-an itu ditahan pada 9.30 malam tadi selepas dipanggil ke pejabat SPRM untuk diambil keterangan.
Letusan Gunung Ruang: Malaysia Airlines sambung semula beberapa penerbangan ke Sabah, Labuan
Penerbangan yang terlibat ialah MH2660D (KUL-TWU) yang pada awalnya MH2660, serta MH2661D (TWU-KUL), pada mulanya MH2661.
SPRM tahan CEO syarikat pembekalan air, pemilik syarikat
Kedua-dua lelaki berusia 38 dan 35 tahun itu ditahan di pejabat SPRM Selangor kira-kira pukul 4 petang semalam bagi membantu siasatan.
Menteri Kabinet zahir penghargaan kepada warga pekerja
Hari Pekerja disambut pada 1 Mei setiap tahun bagi meraikan sumbangan warga pekerja dengan sambutan tahun ini yang bertemakan 'Pekerja Kesuma Bangsa'.
Bayi maut disyaki akibat didera, polis tahan empat individu
Polis menahan empat individu di sekitar sini yang disyaki terlibat dalam kes kematian seorang bayi perempuan berumur sembilan bulan di Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), dipercayai akibat didera, minggu lalu.
Rasuah RM3.3 juta: CEO syarikat air, pemilik syarikat ditahan
Ketua pegawai eksekutif syarikat pembekalan air dan seorang pemilik syarikat ditahan semalam berkaitan kes rasuah dan tuntutan palsu RM3.3 juta.
Sumbang lebih RM16 juta kepada asnaf sempena Aidilfitri
Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP) menyumbang lebih RM16 juta kepada asnaf di Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan sempena perayaan Aidilfitri tahun ini.
Maklum Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (hal ehwal agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, bantuan itu diagih sejak sebelum syawal berjumlah RM16.1 juta kepada 32,250 asnaf di ketiga-tiga wilayah yang mana RM500 diberikan kepada setiap seorang.
Maklum Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (hal ehwal agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, bantuan itu diagih sejak sebelum syawal berjumlah RM16.1 juta kepada 32,250 asnaf di ketiga-tiga wilayah yang mana RM500 diberikan kepada setiap seorang.
Keputusan rayuan Siti Bainun sabitan salah abai, aniaya Bella esok
Keputusan itu akan diputuskan Hakim, Datuk Noorin Badaruddin pada jam 10 pagi.
Sabah, Sarawak setuju pinda Ordinan Buruh
Kerajaan Sabah dan Sarawak kerana bersetuju untuk membuat pindaan ke atas Ordinan Buruh Sabah (Ordinan Cap.67) dan Sarawak (Ordinan Bab 76) bagi diselaraskan dengan Akta Kerja 1955 yang terpakai di Semenanjung Malaysia.
"Filem terakhirnya.." - BCL terharu filem lakonan Ashraf bakal ditayangkan tidak lama lagi
Bunga puji usaha dan pencapaian suaminya dalam filem J2: J Retribusi yang akan dilancarkan menerusi platform penstriman Disney Hotstar pada 1 Jun ini.
Cecah pungutan RM1.18 juta di hari pertama, BoBoiBoy Movie 2 cipta rekod filem animasi tempatan
FILEM animasi bergenre aksi, BoBoiBoy Movie 2 (BBB2) berjaya raih kutipan RM1.18 juta pada hari pertama ia ditayangkan!
Avengers: Endgame, rakyat Malaysia ke pawagam seawal 6.30 pagi
Rakyat Malaysia berduyun-duyun ke pawagam seawal 6.30 pagi hanya untuk menjadi orang terawal menonton filem adiwira tersebut.
Lantikan Pengerusi Finas: 'Kalau tiada perubahan, saya tak tahu nak cakap apa!' - Sharifah Amani
"Kalau nothing changes saya tak tau nak cakap apa lah. Selamat bertugas semua! Hans Isaac dilantik pengerusi Finas," tulis Sharifah Amani.
Venom: Tom Hardy teruja, semua yang dimahukan ada dalam filem ini
Tom Hardy menyatakan bahawa tiada adegan yang dipotong dan semuanya hanyalah salah faham.
6 pelakon yang hampir jadi ahli Avengers
Tahukah anda, bukan semua pelakon yang kini memegang watak adiwira Marvel adalah pilihan pertama pengarah atau penerbit filem berkenaan?
Darah dan semangat juang Paskal membara di pawagam bulan depan!
Diadaptasi dari kisah benar, 'Paskal' berkisarkan kisah kejayaan pasukan elit itu dalam Misi Pengaman PBB dan misi merampas kapal dagang MT Bunga Laurel di Teluk Aden.
Trailer filem Aquaman, Shazam dipertonton sempena Comic Con
Disenaraikan beberapa trailer filem yang membuat kemunculan sempena majlis berprestij itu.