Robert Pattinson Joined Batman Because It's Not A Cash-In

Robert Pattinson has shared more insight into why he chose to get back into the blockbuster movie genre by donning the cowl and suiting up to play Batman. He told Entertainment Weekly that he was attracted to the film--which will be directed by Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' Matt Reeves--because of the franchise's "legacy and lineage" as being more than a simple cash-in to sell toys.

"There was something that always appealed to me about it. I feel like it exists outside the realm of ... Batman movies have always attracted really, really good directors, and really good actors," he said. "It's got a legacy and a lineage to it ... it's never seemed to me like it's been just a cash-in. I always feel like it's not like they just made a movie so they could sell toys."

Pattinson joins a long list of celebrated actors who have played Batman over the years, including Christian Bale, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Ben Affleck.

Other big-name actors who have appeared in Batman movies have included Jack Nicholson, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, Danny DeVito, Anne Hathaway, Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Uma Thurman, and Liam Neeson, among others.

As Pattinson alludes to, the Batman series has also attracted some highly regarded directing talent. Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, and Joel Schumacher have directed entries in the series.

In the EW interview, Pattinson said he was "obsessed" with the Tim Burton Batman movies, while he also praised the '60s Batman TV show featuring Adam West as Batman.

In addition to Pattinson, The Batman stars Andy Serkis (Alfred), Zoe Kravitz (Catwoman), Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Paul Dano (The Riddler), Jeffrey Wright (Commissioner Gordon), and John Turturro (Carmine Falcon).

Also in the interview, Pattinson said he first learned he got the Batman job on his first day of shooting for Christopher Nolan's new movie, Tenet. That movie and the new Batman share a parent production company in Warner Bros.

The Batman will hit theatres on June 25, 2021. DC's major film releases for 2020 are Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984, and it's likely that Batman spin-off Joker will receive a sequel considering its enormous box office success.