Robert Pattinson is reportedly the star of The Batman

Robert Pattinson is the next Dark Knight, it appears.

When Batman returns to the big screen in 2021, the face behind his trademark cowl will reportedly belong to the Twilight star, sources told Variety. 

The publisher reports the deal hasn’t been 100 percent sealed, but that Pattinson is expected to be confirmed soon. 

Deadline, however, reported the star has not yet been confirmed, noting that director Matt Reeves and Warner Bros merely have Pattinson on a short list alongside Tolkien star Nicholas Hoult.

Ben Affleck bowed out of his role in Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe with an announcement in late January.

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Affleck is still set to produce The Batman, as the 2021 movie is called, with frequent J.J. Abrams collaborator Reeves set to direct. Reeves may be best known for his work on the two most recent Planet of the Apes reboot sequels, though he also directed Cloverfield and, with Abrams, created the ’90s TV series Felicity.

Pattinson will be the seventh actor to play a big screen Batman, after Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Affleck. (Will Arnett also voices the character in the Lego movies, and Kevin Conroy’s work on Batman: The Animated Series is legendary.) 

Less clear is how Pattinson’s casting — and, really, Affleck’s exit from the role — affects the make up of the DCEU. Reports have suggested that whoever landed the role would play a younger Bruce Wayne, a choice that would seem to complicate any efforts to include him in WB’s ongoing series.

Warner Bros. will release The Batman on June 24, 2021.

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