We're in the age of the Robert Pattinson renaissance. After playing a love-struck vampire in 2008, Pattinson was typecast as somewhat of an emotional sex symbol. Tweens fawned over the brooding Brit, and he was in numerous films that capitalized on the Edward Cullen craze. None of these films were exceptionally good; Water for Elephants took in a mere $117 million, and the 9/11 romance saga Remember Me drew just $56 million. Some might argue that Pattinson's time in Hollywood had come to a close.

But 2019 really spun things around. The Lighthouse exploded the indie circuit, and critics were taking to the trades to talk about how good Pattinson's performance was in the black and white character study. A major turning point for Pattinson was Christopher Nolan casting him in Tenet, a flagship piece of film that came from Warner Bros. during the height of the pandemic. Tenet showed that Pattinson was able to carry an action/thriller all by himself (he had a brilliant supporting cast in that film, no doubt).

Then came the internet-breaking news that Robert Pattinson was cast as Batman in Matt Reeves' The Batman. DC fans were shocked, Twilight readers were aghast, and critics were confused. But the debut of the teaser trailer at DC FanDome last year truly cemented the fact that Pattinson is Batman.

Shared Character Traits

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Lionsgate

Trying to draw parallels between Edward Cullen and Bruce Wayne may sound like a divisive exercise that is bound to offend certain groups of people, but the proof is in the pudding. Both Cullen and Wayne are dark, gloomy, and somewhat complex characters (Bruce Wayne arguably being the more intricate of the two).

Considering the source material, Robert Pattinson did an excellent job playing a mysterious, shiny vampire who uttered only a few choice words. Although his character was a laughingstock of sorts, it is unquestionable that he played the role well.

Director Matt Reeves' version of Batman is one that we have not seen on screen before. Ultra dark, grim, and vengeful, Pattinson's take on the caped crusader is cinematically novel and truly offers him the platform to show off his acting chops. Yes, although his range is somewhat questionable, Pattinson plays brooding really, really well. So Batman--at least this iteration is a character that Pattinson will undeniably excel at.

Related: 5 Amazing Robert Pattinson Performances to Watch Before The Batman

Always a hero?

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Warner Bros.

Some might argue that Pattinson's claim to fame was playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and even in that role, Pattinson has an air of mystery and bravery, something that he brought to all the characters he played post-2005. There's a reason for this, and it's simply the fact that no other mainstream actor in Hollywood has the unique ability to play mysterious yet still maintain an air of appeal (save for maybe Eddie Redmayne, who Pattinson recently claimed frequently auditioned with him for the same roles). From what we've seen and heard about The Batman, this version will be a deep character study of one man's quest for revenge, all the while being shrouded in mystery. There's no doubt that Pattinson will knock this out of the park.

They understood the assignment.

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Warner Bros.

When the news first broke that Pattinson will be the next actor to don the iconic cape and cowl, there was immediate backlash. People who were only familiar with Edward Cullen couldn't seem to shrug that notion of Robert Pattinson. As explained above, the actor didn't make a good case for himself based on the roles he took following Twilight. Still, the vast majority of critics and cinemaphiles were extremely dubious about Reeves' and Warner Bros.' decision. Obviously, this stance has since changed, and The Batman is one of this year's most highly anticipated movies, but the initial reaction was one of confusion and anger. Sure, some of this can be chalked up to the distrust that fans have of the direction that Warner Bros. is going with the DCEU at large, but it was primarily because of Twilight.

Pattinson and Reeves understood the assignment. They knew that audiences have never seen a grimy Gotham City (we're leaving 2019's Joker out of the equation here).

Related: Matt Reeves Explains Reason for Backlash to Robert Pattinson's Batman Casting

If the released trailers have proved anything, it's the fact that Robert Pattinson was born to play this version of Batman. Reeves has a unique vision for Catwoman, Penguin, and the Riddler. It's a vision that arguably fits around what Pattinson brings to the table. Mystery, angst, and well, darkness are all in the repertoire that is Pattinson's filmography. The Batman has set the stage for a solid, comic-accurate performance that will no doubt steer DC's attempt at a new universe down the right path.

With Twilight in the far end of the rearview mirror, Robert Pattinson can most definitely show mainstream audiences that he is a master at dynamic performances. As Warner Bros.' new Batman, he is more than just a glittery one-trick pony. Pattinson is here to stay, and we definitely cannot wait to see how his adventures in Gotham City pan out.