Marvel Fans Have A Big Problem With Robert Pattinson's Batsuit
As if Batman didn't have enough problems, he's now facing accusations of thievery.
Since camera test footage of star Robert Pattinson suited up for writer-director Matt Reeves' The Batman was made public last week, some fans have been taking to social media to pan the new getup. It's not DC die-hards that are doing most of the dissing, though; it's Marvel fans, who seem to think that Battinson's mask bears a little too much of a resemblance to that worn by the Devil of Hell's Kitchen in the Netflix series Daredevil.
We must admit that the similarity didn't jump out and bite us at first, but once it's been pointed out, it's kind of tough to un-see it. It doesn't help that the footage was absolutely bathed in a candy apply red glow, which has the effect of making the Dark Knight's suit look as if it's been dyed Daredevil Red (and is reminiscent of the Netflix series' opening credits).
Of course, the camera test footage didn't give us a head-to-toe gander at the new Batsuit; it mostly lingered on the chest piece (which appears for all the world to be made out of a disassembled gun), along with the mask and cowl. It never does show us Bruce Wayne's Bat-ears, which are typically set much further back from the forehead than Daredevil's trademark horns, and what we're getting at here is that the similarity between the new Batsuit and Daredevil's duds might not be quite so pronounced once we get a full-color, top-to-bottom peek at the former.
It's tough to argue, though, that the mask Battinson is sporting — with its shaped brow, nose guard, and opening for the mouth and chin that's cut nearly all the way back to the temple — doesn't look pretty damn Daredevil-esque.
What are Marvel fans saying about Robert Pattinson's Batsuit?
A strong contingent of Marvel fans came out on Twitter to jeer at the new Batsuit pretty much immediately after the test footage was released. The brouhaha caused Daredevil to begin trending, which caused a goodly number of fans some anguish when they found out why. "Saw Daredevil trending, got excited a 4th season bout to drop," wrote @ImDirtyDan96. "Then I find out it's just the new Batman suit."
More than a few fans just angrily pointed out the resemblance ("I mean did they even try?" tweeted @DrNebuloso), while others at least had a sense of humor about the whole thing. @AKARELK suggested, "Batman one-shot hallway fight in Daredevil's honor," while @GOATfilmpodcast pretty much notched the win with their remark: "If Daredevil could see The Batman right now," they wrote, "he would be pissed."
As always, though, there were a few voices of reason amid the chorus of boos. Deciding to go ahead and address every criticism thus far leveled at Pattinson's Caped Crusader, @Hey_XKid wrote, "Dear people still upset about the new Batman. The suit and cowl is fine. Yes that foo looked like Daredevil , it's not just cause he's in red light. It's the shape of the cowl. Robert Pattinson has other roles aside from Twilight. Watch The Lighthouse. He doesn't need to be buff."
We're right there with this user; we've been saying ever since the casting was announced that Pattinson is a criminally underrated actor who is going to make an absolutely fantastic Batman. We're planning on staying in the minority with our opinion for the foreseeable future, though, because plenty of fans of all stripes still simply aren't convinced.
The Batman is facing an uphill battle with fans
We can't say that we're surprised; it stands to reason that there isn't a heck of a lot of overlap between Batman fans, Twilight fans, and aficionados of the kind of challenging art films that have been Pattinson's bread and butter since he wrapped up his time starring in the oft-maligned YA franchise. In case you're in need of assurance that the star will crush his new gig, though, we've got a few supporting documents to bolster that case.
First, there's the 2017 crime drama Good Time, which stars Pattinson as a bank robber desperately trying to gather funds to get his simple-minded brother out of prison. The flick was directed by the Safdie brothers, who turned in one of the sharpest thrillers in recent memory with last year's Uncut Gems, and Pattinson's performance is a) brilliant, and b) about as far from Edward Cullen as you can get (no sparkling here).
Next, we direct you to 2018's High Life, a sci-fi/drama from acclaimed French director Claire Denis. Pattinson stars as a condemned prisoner aboard a deep-space mission bound for a black hole, and the movie's crazy, non-linear narrative is absolutely anchored by his committed performance.
Speaking of committed performances, you'd also do well to follow the advice of the Twitterer above and watch The Lighthouse, in which Pattinson totally holds his own in what is essentially a two-man acting showcase opposite the great Willem Dafoe. All of the above movies are far from your typical Hollywood fare, and they all demonstrate that Pattinson is an actor of impressive range who is more than capable of delivering an interesting new take on Bruce Wayne.
As for that Daredevil-y cowl... let's just reserve judgment until we see some actual, non-test footage, shall we?