Did Robert Pattinson Win The Batman Role Simply Because He Looks Better in the Batsuit?

As of yesterday, Warner Bros. still hadn’t locked down an actor forThe Batman, and were seemingly down to two finalists who were entering the last stages of the casting process. It was recently reported that Robert Pattinson (Twilight,High Life) had locked in the role, however, those reports were a bit premature. While it’s true that Pattinson, by various accounts, was at the top of the studios' list, Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past,Tolkien) was also very much in the running as well. Yesterday it was rumored that both actors were going to screen test for the part, believed be the final step in the process. Now we know that Robert Pattinson has won the role, though Warner Bros. is still finalizing the paperwork and hasn’t sent out an ‘official’ confirmation just yet. So did it all come down to Pattinson looking better in the Batsuit? Sorta sounds that way, as both actors are quite talented in their own right.

Apparently both actors did a screen test to be the new Batman. Ben Affleck had been playing the part ever sinceBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But he has since departed the role and now director Matt Reeves, who has been tapped by Warner Bros. to write and directThe Batman, has the opportunity to cast someone new and start from scratch. It’s reported that bothRobert Pattinsonand Nicholas Hoult were to be testing in the Batsuit, which is especially intriguing. Here’s the update, as posted to Twitter yesterday.

“Batman Update: Robert Pattinson & Nicholas Hoult are screen testing for the role. I suspect they’re screen testing in theBatsuitbecause Wardrobe Department will need full wardrobe test. Additionally, the film will now start production in Q1 2020.”

It had been previously reported thatThe Batmancould begin filming before the end of the year. While that seems to have been pushed back, that still gives the studio plenty of time to get the movie ready for its summer 2021 release. That aside, the far more interesting thread here is how seriously Warner Bros. took this casting process and who they’ve ultimately landed on in Robert Pattinson.

We previously reported that theBatman casting process was very thorough, as the studio sees this as their most valuable property and they don’t want to mess it up. While there are plenty who liked Ben Affleck’s take on the Caped Crusader, his run as the character was, at best, divisive. Much of that can be blamed on the movies he was trapped in. That said, it’s understandable that Warner Bros. would want to avoid that again, if at all possible. Though, not surprisingly, the internet did flip out upon hearing that the guy fromTwilightis our new Batman. And the latest rumor is that he’s signed on for a trilogy that is not connected to the current DCEU movies.

Robert Pattinson has evolved a lot since hisYA vampire days. In movies likeThe RoverandGood Time, amongst others, he’s proven himself to be rather talented. He even recently scored some early Oscar buzz following the debut ofThe Lighthouseat Cannes. Nicholas Hoult, meanwhile, similarly has proven his ability in both big blockbusters, alaX-MenandMad Max: Fury Road, as well as smaller indies. But it looks like it all may have come down to who had the better chin in the cape and cowl, and who looked better in the Batsuit, as we have word that Pattison won the role shortly after these screen-tests were allegedly completed.The Batmanis set to hit theaters on July 20, 2025. Be sure to check out the post fromUmberto Gonzalez’s Twitteraccount below. Artist Datrinti created the fan art above depicting what Robert Pattinson could possibly look like in the Batsuit.