Robert Pattinson, the man whose name has been met with all types of resistance and support ever since he got the role as Batman. I haven’t been following him like that and to be fair, I’m not familiar with his personality. However, I have noticed that in the past few months he’s been deliberately saying things that have gotten under the skin of many fans and his latest comment has even me! The question now is, is he trying to separate himself from Ben Affleck’s Batman, like how Joaquin Phoenix redefined the Joker or does he really not care about the role of Batman?
In his latest interview with GQ, one line really annoyed a group of fans anticipating his version of the Batman:
The film studio hired a trainer who left Pattinson with a Bosu ball, a single weight, and a sincere plea to use both, but right now, he says, he’s ignoring her. “I think if you’re working out all the time, you’re part of the problem,” he says, sighing. By “you” he means other actors. “You set a precedent. No one was doing this in the ’70s. Even James Dean—he wasn’t exactly ripped.” He says that back when he was the star of the Twilight franchise, “the one time they told me to take my shirt off, I think they told me to put it back on again.” But Batman is Batman. Pattinson called another actor on the film, Zoë Kravitz, the other day, and she said she was exercising five days a week during their exile from set. Pattinson, well: “Literally, I’m just barely doing anything,” he says, sighing again.
Reading this answer to the idea of working out may have been fine with any other role. but considering that this is the Batman we’re talking about, the peak physical specimen of humanity. So I can see why this kinda rubs fans the wrong way! Batman is an icon, a household name, and people have high expectations for his portrayal. So when you hear the actor playing the character talk like he doesn’t care, people will talk. Now when it comes to him setting a precedent, like what a man should look like, maybe I’m not the best person to speak on this but, most guys really never care. Seriously, I have never known a guy complain that Ben Affleck’s Batman or any film where the dude is in great physical shape has made them feel any less of a man. We just watch and move on. Most of the time, we strive to be like our heroes in a positive way! That’s just my opinion anyway, other people might be different.
The big media though have jumped on this to further the narrative of toxic masculinity been dealt with and how Robert Pattinson is fighting against that but hey, everything’s gotta be an attack what it means to a man these days right? I get the argument for body-image and the very specific, pretty-much unattainable body type, but I honestly don’t think it’s as big of a deal to the majority as they seem to make it out to be. But hey, times’ a changing and I could very well be wrong. This is my opinion after all!
Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time Robert Pattinson has done something to rile up fans. I believe in January he said that Batman wasn’t a superhero because he doesn’t have any powers. Now that statement alone got people annoyed which I personally didn’t get. Saying that Batman ain’t a superhero because he doesn’t have any powers should’ve just been left like that, but it’s how he “apologized” that really added fuel to the fire. His apology came across like he didn’t care. Which to be fair, is how the fans should’ve reacted to his first comment.
Ever since he was cast as Batman, the fans have been divided. However, I feel like Robert Pattinson might be putting up an act to try and lower fans’ expectations of his Batman so when the movie drops, it shuts up everyone who had something to say. Yes, I’m playing devil’s advocate here. Yes, I don’t like his comment of him not working out or putting in the effort, but I believe that it could be a front to make it seem like he’s not trying. Or at least I hope so.
I just hope he doesn’t screw it up in his attempt to be unique.
