Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader will take pleasure in hurting bad guys in The Batman. As the film's release date nears, the actor has been doing more and more press for the Matt Reeves-directed project. While he can't specifically talk about spoilers, his comments offer new details with regard to what to expect from the blockbuster.
Currently, The Batman is set for a March 2022 release date. Although there's a chance that it could eventually be delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus surge, Reeves, alongside the general public hopes that the film will stick to its current release date, especially since it's been pushed back significantly. Despite this complication, marketing for the film is being ramped up as it nears its scheduled premiere with the rollout of a string of TV spots and tie-in promotional materials. Aside from that, press junkets for the blockbuster appear to have kicked off as well.
Speaking with the French outlet, Premiere (via The Direct), Pattinson discusses his version of the Bat of Gotham in The Batman. He reveals his thoughts about the character's no-kill rule from the comics — something that the DCEU went against and became a big talking point in the fandom. The actor also revealed that his take on the iconic DC character will take pleasure in hurting bad guys. Read his full quote below:
"I imagined it that way from the rehearsal of the first fight, I thought it was funnier: something in him just wanted to slit the guy's throat! I told myself that if he spends his nights chasing criminals, it is impossible that he does not take pleasure in it. He suffers and it is a desire that overwhelms him. And by dint of knocking, his mind clears, he calms down, he reaches a state close to plenitude. I'm sure in this first fight, he manages to convince himself that every guy in front of him is the one who killed his mother (Laughs.) And so that allows him to vent all his rage."
It's worth noting that The Batman is officially rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing content, and based on Pattinson's comments, it seems like the film will make the most out of this. Official marketing footage has shown Bruce Wayne in various intense fights, giving the blockbuster the chance to actually showcase the hero's tendency to indulge himself in punishing villains. This also fits well with Pattinson's previous comment about his version of Batman not being a straight-up hero. Instead, he will be a little bit more complicated, as he's more willing to tap into his dark side when dealing with bad guys.
So, does this mean that Pattinson's Batman will go against the character's no-kill rule like Ben Affleck's iteration did? It's difficult to say at this point. However, it's possible that having all this pent-up frustration and desire to physically hurt his foes comes with Bruce's unprocessed trauma. This makes sense since he's still fairly new to being the vigilante Batman, so he's far from the calm and collected character who's been in the business for quite a while. As The Batman franchise grows, perhaps Bruce also learns how to control his emotions and not be dictated by them.
Source: Premiere (via The Direct)
