Robert Pattinson Is Officially the Next Batman

Warner Bros has now signed on the next actor to dawn Batman’s cowl in the upcoming film The Batman. English actor Robert Pattinson, best known for playing vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight franchise, as well as his recent roles in Claire Denis’s High Life and the upcoming film The Lighthouse, will become the seventh actor to portray the caped crusader in a live action film.

Following Ben Affleck‘s decision to step down from the role of Batman following Batman v. Superman and Justice League’s lackluster reception, there was plenty of speculation on who would be suitable to take up the cowl next. It was reported that Pattinson had been in talks with Warner Bros. for the role, which he has now signed on for. The Batman will be directed by American filmmaker Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, War for the Planet of the Apes) from a screenplay he wrote with Affleck.

Very little is known about about the film’s plot as it will begin pre-production this summer, but an official start date for filming remains unknown. The project does, however, have the release date of June 25, 2021. Amid some nonsensical backlash to Pattinson playing this role, it is quite unclear on how The Batman or Pattinson’s performance might play out.