'The Batman' sequel: Robert Pattinson's film will keep Bruce Wayne as focus

Matt Reeves confirms that the Twilight star will be reprising his role as the caped crusader in the second installment

If you thought Robert Pattinson was hanging up the cape, well, think again. Matt Reeves confirms that the Twilight star will be reprising his role as the caped crusader in the upcoming sequel, which will centre around Bruce Wayne's character. The acclaimed director told Collider that he found Pattinson's role to be special and his focus would always navigate around emotional tropes.

“To me, the thing that I really feel is that I also believe that Rob [Pattinson] is so special in the role," Reeves told the publication.

"My goal has always been to do these point-of-view stories that allow the character to always be the emotional center of the story. Because a lot of times what happens is after you do the first one, then suddenly other Rogues Gallery characters come in, and they kind of take over, and then Batman takes a backseat sort of character-wise, or emotionally.”

Speaking about who is penning the script, Reeves first commented, “I'm not going to answer that question, but we are working on a movie. I'll put it to you that way.” But then he revealed, “We're deep in it and my partner and I are writing, Mattson [Tomlin] and I are writing, and it's really exciting, and I'm really excited about what we're doing.”

He added, "I actually think that through the plan of what these stories are that I want to tell, there is an epic sort of sweep of the development of that character."

Pattinson takes over the role from Ben Affleck, whose appearances as Batman in two DC Comics-based ensemble superhero movies - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League - were poorly received by fans.

Affleck had written and was also due to direct, a standalone Batman movie, but ultimately withdrew entirely from the franchise at a turbulent time in his personal life, including renewed struggles with alcoholism and his divorce from Jennifer Garner.

Pattinson’s career to this point has been shaped by a combination of talent, desire, luck, attendant fame, and bold choices. The fame factor has a lot to do with Twilight, the teen-vampire saga that grossed billions of dollars. But since then, Pattinson’s been “constantly doing risk assessments, which drives everybody crazy, trying to predict every single element that could possibly happen.”

The Batman minted over $770 million worldwide.

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