The Batman: Robert Pattinson Wore George Clooney's Batsuit For Camera Test
Robert Pattinson has revealed that he wore George Clooney’s Batman suit from 1997's Batman & Robin for his screen test to take on the role of Bruce Wayne in The Batman. The actor is the latest on-screen incarnation of the Caped Crusader, inheriting the role from Ben Affleck. Pattinson's first outing as Gotham's Dark Knight is currently set to debut in theaters on March 4.
The Batman will bring the hero back to the early days of his career in vigilantism, focusing on only his second year of fighting crime. Directed by Matt Reeves, the film will see Batman go head-to-head against The Riddler (Paul Dano) and The Penguin (Colin Farrell) while also tangling with a mysterious cat burglar named Selina Kyle (Zoey Kravitz). The Batman appears to be loosely adapting Batman: The Long Halloween comic book arc, but much of the film's overall plot has remained well under wraps throughout its marketing campaign.
Now, with The Batman’s release date drawing near after a series of delays, more information has surfaced about the film. In a recent interview with Japanese publication Eiga (via a translation on Reddit), Robert Pattinson opened up about his preparation for the role and noted that he actually wore George Clooney’s Batsuit from Batman & Robin in his screen test for the role. Read Pattinson's translated comments below:
I think (the screen test suit) was George Clooney... It looks cool, but it feels like a nightmare. I can't move. I was sweating all the time, and I was scared that I couldn't do anything with this (laughs). My suit is not only very cool, but it's also incredibly well designed. Even if I play a fight scene with a lot of movement, I can move anyway.
Screen testing while wearing the outfits of different actors that have previously played the role has become commonplace in the comic book movie world. Christian Bale screen tested for Batman Begins in Val Kilmer’s suit, and Man of Steel director Zack Snyder has talked about the experience of seeing Henry Cavill in Christopher Reeves’ Superman outfit. Pattinson is the latest to go through that process, wearing Clooney’s suit because Kilmer’s reportedly did not fit him quite as well, and the experience helped inform his performance.
One interesting thing worth noting about Pattinson’s comments regarding George Clooneys Batsuit is the discussion of mobility. The 1990s Batman costumes were notoriously clunky and did not allow the actors to move their heads – something that was addressed in-universe when The Dark Knight hit theaters in 2008. Now, with changes made to costume design, Robert Pattinson’s Batman and his Batsuit will be much more agile and maneuverable, which will hopefully translate to a far more intense and physical performance when The Batman hits theaters.