Actor Robert Pattinson is set to star as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Matt Reeves’ upcoming stand-alone film, The Batman, for Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Comics.

Variety reported the news this evening.  There were rumors about Warner looking to replace Ben Affleck as far back as summer 2017.  Sure enough, Affleck would quit in late 2018 before breaking his silence earlier this year.  Nobody can blame him for doing so.  A lot of this really comes down to the fact that there was no coherent vision for the DC Extended Universe.  While Wonder Woman was a hit with critics and fans alike, Affleck’s performance was just never able to catch on with fans.

It’s important to stress that this is not the end of the world.  Listen, I would have questioned this casting as recently as a few years ago.  While I’ve yet to see Twilight and certainly have no plans to do so anytime soon, he’s made some wise choices for his post-Twilight career.  In 2017, Pattinson would star as Corporal Henry Costin in The Lost City of Z.  If this wasn’t enough to show a change in his career, the next move definitely ranks as a career-best performance.  In Josh and Benny Safdie’s Good Time, Pattinson would blow audiences away while starring as Connie Nikas.  Last year, Pattinson would star in Damsel for the Zellner brothers.  This year, Pattinson would star in High Life for Claire Denis.

I have an open mind so I will give Robert Pattinson the benefit of the doubt.  I trust Matt Reeves in making the right decision.  After all, he was the director for the two recent Planet of the Apes sequels.  In addition to Reeves both writing and directing the film, he will be producing the film with Dylan Clark.

The Batman is set to be released on June 25, 2021.