The Batman actor Robert Pattinson says he lied to Tenet director Christopher Nolan about auditioning for the DC Extended Universe movie. Pattinson is one of the bigger stars in Hollywood right now, thanks to roles in two major upcoming films. Tenet was already the subject of much interest, with its all-star cast, mysterious plot, and Nolan at the helm. However, it also became a topic of conversation throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as many believed it would be the first blockbuster to release once theaters reopened. This didn't wind up being the case completely, as Tenet will open in September with many theaters still closed.

However, The Batman is, impressively, an even bigger project for Pattinson. He'll take over the Bruce Wayne role from Ben Affleck in the movie directed by Matt Reeves. Like Tenet, key parts of the film are unknown at this time, though it will feature several iconic Batman villains. These include the Riddler (Paul Dano), the Penguin (Colin Farrell), and Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz). Each small reveal from the film, including Pattinson's Batsuit and Batmobile, has generated excitement. Unfortunately, that Pattinson project was also affected by the coronavirus, with production currently halted.

Related: How Robert Pattinson's Batman Costume Compares To Previous Versions

However, despite the pandemic, Pattinson and his co-stars have continued promoting Tenet ahead of its release. Speaking with The Irish Times, Pattinson discussed the level of secrecy required for both Tenet and The Batman, saying he actually had to lie to Nolan about his screen test for the latter:

It’s funny because Chris is so secretive about everything to do with his movies. And then I had to be really secretive about Batman stuff. So I had to lie to Chris about having to go for a screen test – I said I had a family emergency. And as soon as I said ‘it’s a family emergency’ he said: ‘You’re doing the Batman addition, aren’t you?’

Christopher Nolan and Robert Pattinson

Though it may seem extreme, it makes sense Pattinson had to keep the audition process a secret, even from Nolan. Casting is a huge component of any superhero movie, especially one starring a character as iconic as Batman. Only a select number of actors have had the privilege of playing Bruce Wayne, and Pattinson's casting reveal was a big moment for Warner Bros. and DC. It makes sense they didn't want to risk it leaking ahead of time, even from a director known for his ability to keep secrets.

Pattinson's comments also highlight how impressive it is he was involved in two high-profile projects back-to-back. Not only was filming Tenet and The Batman likely exhausting, the actor had, and continues to have, the added pressure of not spoiling either movie. It makes sense Pattinson said in May, "having some time off [due to the filming delay] is not the worst thing in the world." Hopefully, once The Batman resumes production and more is revealed about the movie, Pattinson will have a few less secrets to keep.

More: What The Batman TV Show Means For Robert Pattinson's Future

Source: The Irish Times

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