The Batman 2: Robert Pattinson Will Finally Beat His Worst Criticism as The Dark Knight That He Himself Triggered
- Robert Pattinson's slimmer physique in 'The Batman' drew criticism from fans comparing him to his bulkier predecessors.
- Mixed martial artist Devin Powell revealed he is training Pattinson is training for 'The Batman 2'.
- Pattinson initially resisted bulking up for Batman because of his rejection of Hollywood's unrealistic body expectations.
Batman has been a constant face in superhero cinema for decades now, but each actor made the hero his own. The Dark Knight has shifted a lot from the physicality of Michael Keaton’s gothic superhero to Robert Pattinson’s detective persona.
Some fans initially argued about Pattinson’s Batman, especially because of his physique. As for The Batman, though much of his performance was well-received, he had a much slimmer frame than his predecessors, which became a major topic of debate for fans.
Robert Pattinson looks to answer his critics in The Batman 2
As the symbol of the Dark Knight, the role of Batman has always required a physical change in appearance from the actor. It primarily started with Christian Bale, who had to gain around 100 lbs of muscle for Batman Begins (as per Men’s Journal).
Ben Affleck gained an extra 30 lbs of muscle to push his overall weight over 220 pounds (as per ABC) to create the most physically intimidating Batman yet. These transformations were not for looks only, they contributed to making a strong image of a Batman who is capable of fighting with many villains at once.
In The Batman, Robert Pattinson‘s portrayal focused more on agility rather than muscle mass, which suited Matt Reeves’ version of a younger, less seasoned Dark Knight. Although this interpretation was fine within the context of the film, critics continued comparing him to his predecessors in terms of physicality.
However, it seems like Pattinson has finally decided to reply back. Former UFC lightweight mixed martial artist Devin Powell has recently revealed on his Instagram that he has been training the actor for the last few months. In his post, he wrote,
Capped off this incredible year training Robert Pattinson for 2 months while he was in Boston working on a film..
When one user asked him whether he was training him for The Batman 2, Powell replied,
He was in town filming an A24 film with Zendaya and wanted to keep in shape and keep training martial arts for when he begins that project in a bit.
The decision could potentially reply to those critics who believed his version of the Dark Knight can’t fight bigger villains or many villains at once. It also might indicate some changes in the action sequences of the sequel. Perhaps a bulkier Pattinson will result in more hand-to-hand combats and more physical stunt sequences, which was one of the few complaints about the first movie.
Why did Robert Pattinson refuse to bulk up for The Batman?
Other than the physical demands, Pattinson’s decision of not bulking up and getting shredded is rooted in his stance against Hollywood’s body expectations. In an earlier interview with GQ, he said, “I think if you’re working out all the time, you’re part of the problem.”
He also referenced James Dean saying, “You set a precedent. No one was doing this in the ’70s. Even James Dean — he wasn’t exactly ripped.”
This stance created some controversy during the shooting of The Batman. There were rumors that Pattinson was too skinny for the role and most of Reeves’ stunt doubles were significantly bigger, which led to his team pushing Pattinson to go through a workout regime.
The training he is undergoing at the moment with Powell appears to be more balanced and aligned with both his role’s demands and fans’ expectations. Instead of fully rejecting the superhero physique, Pattinson seems to be trying to hit the requirement in his own manner while not compromising his principles.
The Batman is available to stream on Max.
The Batman 2 is scheduled to release on October 1, 2027.
