It was all a joke you see, just his dry, very English sense of satire and irony. But The Batman star Robert Pattinson did create a stir when in May 2020, he said, "I think if you’re working out all the time, you’re part of the problem." Fans immediately questioned his commitment and attitude towards superhero roles, which typically requires the male actor to undergo a tremendous physical transformation to embody the figure in the comic book pages.
He recently told MovieMaker, "That really came back to haunt me. I just always think it’s really embarrassing to talk about how you’re working out. I think it’s like an English thing. Unless you are in the most unbelievable shape, where people are just genuinely curious, going, ‘How have you achieved, like, physical perfection?’ or whatever. You’re playing Batman. You have to work out. I think I was doing the interview when I was in lockdown, as well, in England. … I was in a lower gear of working out.”
For what it's worth, the earlier quote did drive a conversation online and it seems the studio, partially to address any concerns, included a shirtless shot of Pattinson in the latest trailer. Pattinson does look like he worked out and looks to be in very good shape by any measure - though perhaps his physique is not on the same level as Christian Bale or Ben Affleck, the last two men who played Batman.
In that regard, Pattinson's original point still stands. Rather than sporting the Greek God physiques favored by Zack Snyder or even the highly sculpted physiques seen in Marvel movies, Pattinson has a humbler and more modest look - a grounded and believable physique for a busy young man who works out. And in its own way, credit to Pattinson for subverting the usual superhero trend of showing all these impossible bodies on screen. Pattinson was cast for his acting, not his abs and to the degree he's able to deliver a great performance, he will be a worthy addition to the pantheon of great screen Batmen.
Are you satisfied with Pattinson's clarification? Let us know in the comments below.
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