The Batman Star Robert Pattinson Talks Batsuit, Leaks, Marvel, and Fuels Joker Crossover Theories

The new Batman, Robert Pattinson, has discussed his casting process, what it felt like to put on the Batsuit, asking for tips from Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy), and a meeting he had with Marvel Studios in the first interview since he won the role of the Caped Crusader at the end of May. But the most interesting nugget for many comic book fans is the part that's been left out of the interview, which deals with Joker star Joaquin Phoenix. For some, it's naturally been the perfect cue to imagine a Batman-Joker crossover, boosted by the fact that both films aren't part of the DC Comics film universe. Warner Bros. has yet to say anything officially.

Towards the end of the Variety cover story with The Batman star, writer Ramin Setoodeh says: “At one point in our conversation, [Pattinson] offers a mundane comment about Joaquin Phoenix, who stars in Joker (a movie he hasn't seen yet), before asking to retract it. ‘Oh s**t,' he says, adding that he's not accustomed to thinking about spoilers. ‘I definitely should not say that. I'm so used to pretty art-house movies, where you can watch the movie three times and still not know what it's about.'” There's not much to go on here frankly, but the fact that Pattinson felt his “mundane comment” needed to be retracted is something.

If the two movies were to indeed cross over, The Batman couldn't then take place in present-day given Joker is set in ‘80s Gotham City. The Batman writer-director Matt Reeves said in January that it will be a “noir Batman tale” with Bruce Wayne in a more “detective mode”, but there's been no official word on the time period. In March, there were rumours that The Batman would be set in the ‘90s, which would allow Pattinson and Phoenix's characters to co-exist, but they were never confirmed. Meanwhile, Joker has already laid the groundwork, with Batman's father Thomas Wayne present in the film.

Pattinson also revealed that he had tried pitching himself to Reeves before the role ever came his way: “I'd had Batman in my mind for a while. It's such an absurd thing to say. I sort of had an idea to do it, and I'd been prodding Matt. He didn't accept any prods. I kept asking to meet him.” Fortunately, the director came calling later, although Pattinson was worried he wouldn't be cast after it was leaked: “When that thing leaked, I was f—ing furious. Everyone was so upset. Everyone was panicking from my team. I sort of thought that had blown up the whole thing.”

But as we now know, it didn't. The last bit of the casting process was getting into the Batsuit. Here's how it went, per Pattinson: “I put it on. I remember saying to Matt, ‘It does feel quite transformative!' He was like, ‘I would hope it does! You're literally in the Batsuit.' […] You do feel very powerful immediately. And it's pretty astonishing, something that is incredibly difficult to get into, so the ritual of getting into it is pretty humiliating. You've got five people trying to shove you into something. Once you've got it on, it's like, ‘Yeah, I feel strong, I feel tough, even though I had to have someone squeezing my butt cheeks into the legs.'”

With Nolan, Pattinson asked him about the Batsuit among other things: “I was talking about things to do with the Batsuit. How to get more movements in it.”

The Batman will be Pattinson's first comic book role, but it wasn't the first time the conversation began. He said Marvel had “an informational meeting” around Guardians of the Galaxy, but it went nowhere. That was shortly after Twilight ended and Pattinson said he didn't know what he was looking for: “The idea of trying that transition after Twilight, I never saw a road in that direction.” Why did he not feel the same way about Batman? Because he's the only comic book character he's always loved: “It's actually an interesting part. I think it's because he doesn't have any superpowers.”

Pattinson will be seen in The Batman on June 25, 2021. For Warner Bros., it's one of several DC movies set for release: Joker on October 4, Margot Robbie-led Birds of Prey in February 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 in June 2020, James Gunn-directed The Suicide Squad in August 2021, and Aquaman 2 in December 2022. It Chapter 2 director Andy Muschietti is confirmed for The Flash, which might release in 2021 but has no release date.