Robert Pattinson is actually being considered for the new Batman

Looks like Gotham is about to sparkle!

Robert Pattinson isn’t your quintessential Batman. But, much to our astonishment, his name has popped up in the discussions of who might play Dark Knight following Ben Affleck's exit.

The former Twilight star has spent the last few years donning one complicated avatar after another – case in point: The Lost City of Z or High Life, the futuristic sci-fi film for which he has received near-universal acclaim. In recent news,  Pattinson is now being considered for the standalone film.

PHOTO: AFP

He’s seemingly part of a very long shortlist that features big names  like Armie Hammer and industry veteran Jon Hamm. However, if recent scuttlebutt is to be believed, Warner Bros is trying to find a younger (i.e. mid-20s or early 30s) actor to essay their next Bruce Wayne. Based on this criteria alone, Pattinson fits the bill quite perfectly.

And, as much as we'd like to dwell on an ex-vampire taking over the Wayne Enterprises, we can't say he didn't do justice as a potential candidate. An image, which imagines Pattinson in the role of Gotham’s poster boy, has been circulating on social media too.

PHOTO: BOSSLOGIC/INSTAGRAM

However, there's no concrete news on who has been finalised yet. So for the Matt Reeves (War For the Planet of the Apes) helmed film, speculation is high as of now.

And Pattinson? Well, we can add him to the list of potential candidates for The Batman, though we imagine Warner Bros will be casting their net far and wide in search of Affleck’s successor.

It was announced few weeks ago that Affleck would be stepping down from playing the superhero in the new standalone film. Before Pattinson, another name came up as the former's replacement: Nick Jonas! Nick left a comment on an Instagram post announcing Ben’s departure from the role.

PHOTO: DETROIT METRO

Affleck had earlier played Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad and Justice League. “Excited for The Batman in summer 2021 and to see Matt Reeves’ vision come to life,” he tweeted, along with an article about his exit from the upcoming film.

In short, don’t expect an official announcement for another few months at least, as the studio currently has its hands full with Shazam!, the standalone DC film that now faces the somewhat daunting task of opening in a post-Aquaman world.

James Wan’s larger-than-life blockbuster was a true visual spectacle, even earning north of $1 billion at the global box office. Over to you, Billy Batson.

The Batman, meanwhile, has been scheduled for release on June 25, 2021.

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