The Batman director Matt Reeves explains the creative reasoning behind Robert Pattinson's dramatic emo-style eyeliner. With The Batman, the iconic DC hero is getting another big screen reboot, and it's one that has the potential to redefine how audiences see him. The film was initially set to be a part of the DCEU with Ben Affleck's iteration of the character, but when he stepped away from the role, Reeves and Pattinson boarded. Now, The Batman takes place in a universe separate from the DCEU and focuses on Bruce Wayne's investigative side amid a string of gruesome murders.
Coming on the heels of Affleck and Christian Bale, Pattinson has some big shoes to fill when it comes to playing Batman. There was some backlash to his initial casting, but for the most part, many fans are excited to see his take on the beloved character. The buzz has been positive ever since the release of the first Batman trailer, which previewed Pattinson's Batsuit, voice, and makeup. Yes, makeup, because at various points in the film, Pattinson's Bruce will don some epic emo eyeliner.
Reeves recently explained the thought process behind the dramatic eyeliner in an interview with Esquire. Some fans might've been surprised to see Bruce sporting the darker look, but Reeves said he was taken with the image it gives off. It speaks to the overall theatricality of Batman. He stated:
“You can’t wear a cowl and not wear that. All of the Batmen wear that. I just loved the idea of taking off [the mask] and under that there’s the sweating and the dripping and the whole theatricality of becoming this character.”
It may be true that all previous onscreen Batman actors wore some eyeliner while wearing the cowl, but it's never been quite as visible as it is for Pattinson. It's a daring look, and one that, as Reeves said, connects to the dramatic side of Batman. The smudged eyeliner gives the impression that Bruce truly is summoning a character when he slips on the cowl and cape. Since The Batman looks to be exploring Bruce's psyche on a deep level, this extra reasoning for his eyeliner both makes sense and shows that Reeves has put a lot of thought into Bruce's actions.
While The Batman will put a lot of focus on Bruce himself, the film also includes an impressive array of supporting characters, from Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) to the Penguin (Colin Farrell). Even without being a part of the DCEU, Reeves has crafted a well-developed world that will be explored in future Batman movies and spin-offs. In fact, Pattinson already has his arc for future films mapped out, so he has put in just as much thought as Reeves has. Fans will get to see this new Batman emerge in just under two months, and then they can decide how they feel about him - eyeliner and all.
Source: Esquire
