Annlyel James 
ROBERT PATTINSON as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “THE BATMAN,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
After the success of Superman, should Robert Pattinson’s Batman join the wider DC Universe?
For the past two weeks, the superhero fandom has welcomed James Gunn’s take on Superman. His unique style and strong storytelling have come together to create a film that truly captures the essence of Superman as the kindest person on Earth. I recently rewatched the third act of Batman vs. Superman to see the difference. Henry Cavill’s stone-cold Man of Steel, seemingly trying to pulverize Batman (and failing), was unbelievably appalling in comparison. And so now that James Gunn has got DC Studios off to a soaring start, superhero fans are immediately looking to the future.
THE FUTURE OF THE DARK KNIGHT
One of the movies that Gunn has mentioned on his upcoming slate is a Batman movie called The Brave and the Bold. While it seems like an interesting concept with an older Batman and his young protege Robin taking on the rugged streets of Gotham, there is a current Batman that fans have already expressed their undying love for, and that is Robert Pattinson.
When Pattinson was cast as the iconic Caped Crusader, I recall there being a lot of speculation about whether the actor most famously known for playing the pallid vampire Edward Cullen in the enjoyably cringeworthy Twilight series would be a good Batman. Not only did he turn out to be a good Batman, he became a great one. Fans (like myself) have been waiting for years to see his epic journey continue. Unfortunately, that wait has been continuously extended, and now, with Superman having his film, fans are clamoring for Pattinson’s Batman to be the one to stand alongside David Corenswet’s Superman.
I admit, aesthetically, they complement one another shockingly well to the point that the idea of them being the leaders of the Justice League has the potential to give one goosebumps. But it’s their story narratives that have finally made me begin contemplating how perfect Pattinson’s inclusion in DC Studios could be. Here’s why.
BRAVE AND THE BOLD
This past week, I decided to revisit one of my favorite comic book movies of the 2020s so far, The Batman. As I watched the film, I realized that the struggles Bruce Wayne faces in the movie are very similar to those confronted by Clark Kent in Superman. That shared conflict is the shocking revelation that both of their parents, in these adaptations, are not perfect.
Minor Spoilers for Superman ahead. Clark Kent’s parents were revealed to have nefarious intentions for Clark as they commanded him to become a despotic ruler of Earth, rather than the typical instructions to be a savior. And Bruce Wayne’s mother was in and out of Arkham Asylum, causing his father Thomas Wayne to make a deal with Carmine Falcone that ultimately would get him killed. These plot twists in the well-known origins of both Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne are quite fascinating and could have enormous implications for their stories moving forward. This shared narrative, although coincidental, could serve as a nice connection between the two characters, which could be fun to explore if they were part of the same universe.
IN SUMMARY
In short, while I am fully on board with the concept of two Batman franchises at the same time, I can’t help but be excited about the imagination of Pattinson and Corenswet sharing the big screen together as Batman and Superman.
Would you like to see Robert Pattinson join the DC Universe? Or should his Dark Knight remain in the Elseworlds bracket? Should Alan Ritchson be James Gunn’s Batman? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
