Bruce Wayne is the connective tissue between Robert Pattinson and Ben Affleck’s Batman
There are only a few comic characters that transcend their universe. Batman is a comic book classic. You can be a party to any fandom but you would agree that Batman is probably one of the most badass characters ever created. He has been one of the most bankable characters on screen for DC. After all, there have been several versions of the caped crusader since the 30s in various media. Now, as The Flash 2022 introduces DC multiverse assembling Bat-men from various Earths. Who knows we might even see Robert Pattinson and Ben Affleck’s Batman on the screen together. It’s indeed an interesting notion to entertain given both the characters share their origins.
Batman Ben Affleck And Robert Pattinson’s shared DCEU Origin
In August 2013, Ben Affleck became the 8th live-action actor to don the cowl. Since then, Batman fans have not stopped raving about the comic accuracy of Affleck’s Batman. Batfleck debuted in Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016. The fight sequence and bat-armour accuracy coupled with Affleck’s classic Bruce Wayne smirk created an instant connection with fans.
The Batman created by Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck had been a vigilante for decades. He had fought villains, lost a sidekick, and seen it all before facing off against the red cape. Ben Affleck’s iteration is of the dark and brooding Bruce Wayne who’s toughened by time, fighting Gotham’s crime. Furthermore, a Batman standalone movie was planned and Ben Affleck was set to act and direct the movie. But the plans stalled as Affleck exit the franchise after 2017 Justice League failure.
Watch: Batman Training Scene | Batman V Superman
Matt Reeves came on-board to helm an independent take WB’s Batman. And Robert Pattinson was cast as his Vengeance. While Reeves maintained the idea of a prequel movie set by Affleck and Snyder. Reeves’ is a noir tale of Batman and not an origin story.
Reeves’ explained during the DC FanDome event that Pattinson’s’ Batman is in his early years taking on Batman: Year Two comic. In the accompanying, The Batman teaser trailer Pattinson was seen knocking the living daylight out of a goon. Pattinson’s Batman has not yet come to terms with the infinite nature of crime in Gotham city. He is bothered, unnerved, and reactive to the situation created around him. Pattinson’s take on Bruce Wayne is younger and more vulnerable. Pattinson is now also the youngest Batman on the big screen.
Watch: The Batman – DC FanDome Teaser
Riddle me this – What is the same yet different?
In contrast to Robert Pattinson, Ben Affleck’s Batman has been there for decades. He has seen both the good and bad sides of Gotham. Lost Robin through the hands of Joker. He is much more cautious and careful. In BvS, the discordant behaviour of Bruce Wayne towards the possible doom of Superman exhibited the conundrum that his Batman is facing.
Wherein, Pattinson’s entire approach to Batman is forefronted by his moral conundrums as Bruce Wayne. Both Reeves’ and Pattinson have often spoken about how moral conflicts of their Bruce Wayne who is raw, vulnerable yet vengeful is shaping up his alter ego of the Dark Knight.
Batfleck and Battinson’s Rogue Gallery
Speaking of conundrums, Robert Pattinson is going to face a plethora of Bat-villains in his early outing in the bat-suit. Reeves has announced that there will be Riddler, Catwoman, Penguin, and Falcone. While Affleck has not got the opportunity to face any of the Bat-villains alone. Yes, we have seen him facing-off against Superman. But we would have surely loved to see him go hand-to-hand against a bat villain. There were some scenes of Batman facing off against Joker in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. But even WB did not take them seriously.
While both Robert Pattinson and Ben Affleck’s Batman iteration are quite different based on their experiences. Bruce Wayne’s moral conundrum and darkness, anguish and guilt it coveys become the single connective tissue of both Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson’s performance.
Nonetheless, for more similarities and dissimilarities, we would like to wait for Ben Affleck’s Batman in Zack Snyder’s Justice League coming next year and more of Robert Pattinson’s Batman. But, we know that both the Bat-mans are at different points in their lives. Now thanks to Flash and WB, we may be able to see three versions of Bruce Wayne on screen at the same time. A younger version of Battinson, a middle-aged version of Ben Affleck, and finally a worn-out version of Michael Keaton together. The World can never have enough Batman.
