With The Batman's release just around the corner, fans are hyped to see the new portrayal of the Caped Crusader, especially as the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. But fans are also excited because of its fresh crime thriller-like approach, the new depiction of the character, and the fact that it's the first solo Batman movie in a decade.
But with it being such a reinvention of the world compared to most other reboots, it was a tough task to actually bring the idea to life. Between it originally being a part of the DC Extended Universe, Pattinson's struggle finding Batman's voice, and Colin Farrell fighting with the studio to let the character smoke, it was a long, restless road to the final product.
Robert Pattinson Auditioned In George Clooney's Suit
In many ways, Batman & Robin is severely underrated, as it was critically scathed upon its release, and to this day, it's shamed to no end. However, one thing that is truly unforgivable is the Batnipples, which was an unnecessary addition to the suit that George Clooney wore.
However, despite the embarrassing look, Robert Pattinson was still so excited to be wearing it. The new Bruce Wayne wore Clooney's Batsuit for a screen test, and he was wearing it for eight hours. Apparently, it caused some trouble, as Pattinson was sweating profusely, and it worried both the actor and Reeves.
Matt Reeves Was Terrified By The Detective Story
Before movies get widely released, they are almost always put through test screenings to see how they are perceived by general audiences. This usually happens long before the final cut of the movie and when it's in the early stages of the editing process. According to Reeves, he was terrified by this process, as he was worried that audiences wouldn't respond well to the complex detective story and that they'd think it was way too long.
However, the director didn't need to worry at all, as the test audiences were overly excited about seeing the "world's greatest detective" side of the character. And for people who aren't aware of the character's detective side, there are loads of great animated Batman movies that show that side of Batman to watch in preparation for the new movie.
Colin Farrell Went To Starbucks In The Make-Up
One thing that the Batman franchise has over the likes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or any other superhero series is its terrifying villains. Batman has a Rogues Gallery full of unique baddies, and they can be depicted in extremely different ways. And just as Heath Ledger did with his jaw-dropping performance in The Dark Knight, with the use of a great make-up department, Colin Farrell is portraying the Penguin as a realistic gangster-type, and he looks terrifying.
But that didn't stop the actor from visiting Starbucks while dressed in character. With a team of 10-15 people and six to eight hours of sitting in the make-up chair, Farrell marched down to Starbucks. It was more of a test than anything, as the actor wanted to see if he was recognizable through the make-up.
Warner Bros. Wouldn't Let Penguin Smoke
It almost seems like the satirical comedy Thankyou For Smoking accurately depicted the future of the movie industry. The end of the film sees the Senator forcing studios to replace classic shots of characters smoking cigarettes with candy canes, such as the iconic shot of Audrey Hepburn smoking in Breakfast At Tiffany's.
That's almost the case with The Batman, as Ferrell explains that Warner Bros. wouldn't let the Penguin smoke. The actor said that he "fought valiantly for a cigar," but he wasn't allowed. It would have completed the Al Capone-like, gangster-influenced new approach to the character. And while there are so many things only comic fans know about the Penguin, everyone knows he's a smoker, and he even smoked in Batman: The Animated Series.
Pattinson's Batman Voice Was So Bad He Was Asked To Change It
There are specific things expected of actors who are cast as Batman. Along with the jawline and the scowl, they need a distinct voice too. But for Pattinson, his Batman voice didn't come quite as naturally as Christian Bale's did. Pattinson was asked to change his voice by Warner Bros., as he was whispering all of his lines.
The actor explained that because all of the other actors had a "kind of gruff, gravelly thing," he wanted to go in a different direction and do something completely original. But seeing him scream at the Riddler in the trailer, it looks like it changed for the better.
Pattinson's Worst Day Of Filming
While rumors of Pattinson and Reeves not getting along turned out to be false, Pattinson's worst day of filming saw them butting heads. On a day when Pattinson had to deliver a lengthy monologue whilst emoting, he wasn't quite delivering the goods.
Reeves kept asking for more, but Pattinson grew frustrated because he thought it got to the point where he was overacting. The director then asked the actor to watch the takes back on the monitor, and Pattinson was shocked at how underwhelming the delivery was, and then admitted he was wrong. However, he then questioned why it wasn't until the 40th take when Reeves asked him to look at the monitor.
Reeves Tried To Talk Warner Bros. Out Of Hiring Him
Directing a Batman movie sounds like a dream job for any filmmaker, but when Reeves was first offered that job, he was put off by it. However, it wasn't the final, thriller-influenced result that he wanted to walk out on.
Instead, he tried to talk Warner Bros. out of hiring him when the studio showed him a screenplay full of existing DC Extended Universe characters from previous movies. The screenplay didn't work for Reeves, but the more personal approach and the original direction of the new movie seem to have paid off, as it's getting rave reviews. And it looks like it's even setting up a universe of its own.
Pattinson Didn't Know Batman Was A Detective
There are tons of great detective movies to watch before seeing Batman, and that's because of the influence they have had on Reeves and his vision for this version of the character. But before delving into the comic books and researching the character, Pattinson didn't know Batman was a detective.
The actor explained that he didn't know that the hero was also known as "the world's greatest detective" and that he felt like an idiot when he found out. However, given that none of the previous movies delve into that aspect of the character, it's easy to make that mistake.
The Movie Is Exactly What Reeves Wanted To Make
Rarely do studios give directors complete control when it comes to $100+ million budgets. And while the director always gets the credit or blame for the success or failure of the movies, they always have to answer to the producers, and the producers have the option to overrule them.
But, surprisingly, Warner Bros. gave Reeves complete control. The director explained that The Batman is "exactly the movie I wanted it to be." But the Penguin's cigar, or lack thereof, must be the one exception. Maybe the potential success of The Batman could influence other studios to put more trust in their filmmakers too.
Pattinson Was Terrified To See The Final Cut
Just as Reeves was scared to show the movie to test audiences, Pattinson was terrified to see the final cut. The actor admitted that he needs to be in the perfect mindset to watch it and that he needs "an enormous amount of sugar and caffeine and so, like, whatever I'm watching, I'm like, 'yes!'"
There's a lot riding on the movie, as Reeves wants a trilogy and Warner Bros. is clearly trying to expand the world as much as it can, which is clear from the recently announced Penguin and GCPD HBO Max shows. And a lot of that success rests on Pattinson's shoulders, so it's no surprise that he was terrified to see it.