To say that the internet was set ablaze following the reported casting of Robert Pattinson as Batman is an understatement. Though some are willing to give him a fair shot, many others fail to realize he’s been in films other than Twilight. Rest assured, the guy is a professional actor and could probably pull it off. Still, knee-jerk reactions may be premature because he’s yet to be confirmed by the studio.
Regardless, a petition to remove Pattinson from the role of the Dark Knight has emerged online. Though these things never, ever cause actual change, it’s amassed 4,892 signatures at the time of this writing. The goal is 5,000, so it may surpass that by the time you read this.
Needless to say, this isn’t the first time moviegoers have second-guessed the Batman film franchise. Over thirty years ago, people were burning Michael Keaton in effigy when he was cast as the Caped Crusader – and this was before the days of the commercialized internet. I imagine that did cause some concern over at Warner Bros., but a piece written by The Wall Street Journal questioning their decision more likely got them talking.
Similarly, Christian Bale was met with some doubt, even though he’s often regarded as being the best Batman following his performances in the Dark Knight Trilogy. Actually, it was his co-star, Heath Ledger, who had even more venom spewed his way until his take on the Joker made everyone a believer.
Ben Affleck, meanwhile, never had a chance to recover from his controversial casting because both Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League proved divisive among critics and general audiences. But in my view, he was perfectly fine in the role.
The Batman arrives in theaters on June 25th, 2021. In the meantime, just chill and trust Matt Reeves, okay?