Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Planet of the Apes) may have found his new caped crusader with Variety breaking the news late last night that Robert Pattinson (Twilight, Remember Me, High Life, The Lighthouse) is in negotiations to play The Batman in the forthcoming superhero film, which hits theaters June 25, 2021.

Variety eventually clarified the breaking news by adding that it’s not yet a done deal, although Pattinson is the top choice, while TheWrap adds that Pattinson is among the actors on a short list that also includes Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies). Three insiders told the site that no deal is in place with Pattinson. One insider told them that Pattinson and Hoult were both great options, but that “no decision has been made and nothing is official.”

I know the immediate reaction is to scream, “Oh, the teen heartthrob from Twilight is going to play Bruce Wayne?” But let’s stop and remember the outrage over the casting of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Shit, print publications wrote hit pieces about Tim Burton’s casting of Michael Keaton in his 1989 Batman! Matt Reeves has proven time and time again that he’s one of the best filmmakers in the business, and if he thinks Pattinson is the perfect new Batman I’m all for it.

Pre-production on the Warner Bros.-DC Comics pic is expected to start this summer.

Image Source: @BossLogic