Michael Keaton has nailed why his interpretation of Batman worked so well, and Robert Pattinson's turn as Bruce Wayne in The Batman appears to show he also understands the secret to the character. Keaton has explained why he passed on reprising the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman for 1995's Batman ForeverHis reasoning really goes to the heart of the Caped Crusader, and how the movies should approach Batman as a character, which fortunately appears to have been applied to The Batman.

Michael Keaton starred as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton's 1989 comic book classic Batman, and its 1992 sequel Batman Returns. He quit the role however after failing to agree with Batman Forever's director Joel Schumacher on the direction of the series and more specifically, the character of Bruce Wayne. Keaton's focus was always on the human being underneath the cowl first, not the hero. Keaton said, "It was always Bruce Wayne. It was never Batman...I knew from the get-go it was Bruce Wayne. That was the secret." Schumacher disagreed though, moving away from the dark side of Bruce Wayne, and putting the neon-drenched spotlight firmly on Batman. While Batman Forever was a financial success, the new direction was damaging, and 1997's abysmal Batman and Robin killed the series until Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy rebooted the character years later.

Related: The Batman Is Positioning Pattinson As The Opposite Of Batfleck

Based on what's been shown and said so far, Robert Pattinson's understanding of the character in The Batman seems to be on par with Michael Keaton's. Pattinson understands as Keaton does that it's the duality of Bruce Wayne that makes him an endlessly interesting character. What makes someone put on the cape and cowl? and why? The best Batman stories are the ones that pursue the answer to those questions. Keeping the character of Bruce Wayne at the center of the story is exactly what Keaton knew was needed for Batman to work, and this approach to Batman’s character development is important to Robert Pattinson as well.

Robert Pattinson and Michael Keaton as Batman

Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves have described their version of the iconic character as an insomniac who is unable to control his rage and cannot yet delineate between his dual personalities. Indeed his "recluse rockstar" style public identity as Bruce Wayne is another mask that Bruce wears in addition to the cowl. Just like Michael Keaton, both Pattinson and Reeves prioritize character over spectacle, and while The Batman is set to include the pre-requisite action beats, their focus on Bruce Wayne's mental state and flawed heroism is a good sign that the character is in safe hands.

To many, Michael Keaton's Batman remains the best live-action version of The Dark Knight to date. Keaton has a clear understanding of the character and hasn't lost any love for the role since Batman Returns. It bodes well for his return as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Andy Muschietti's The Flash and HBO Max's BatgirlRobert Pattinson is first up though, and given he knows the secret of what makes a Batman story work, hopefully The Batman can deliver on its pre-release hype.

Next: The Batman Is Reviving One Of Burton's Best Dark Knight Tricks

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