THE BATMAN Star Robert Pattinson Jokingly Apologises For Saying The Caped Crusader Isn't A Superhero

The Batman star Robert Pattinson made headlines last year when he said "Batman's not a hero...He’s a complicated character," and he's now issued a light-hearted apology after online backlash from fans...

By JoshWilding - Jan 30, 2020 12:01 AM EST

Filed Under: The Batman

Robert Pattinson is now (or will soon be) hard at work shooting The Batman, but it seems he's already learning not to get on the wrong side of comic book fans! Many took umbrage when he said the Dark Knight isn't a superhero in an interview last year, and the British actor has now retracted that statement.

"I wasn’t educated about the subject," he joked during an interview with Time Out. "People got very angry about it. It’s bizarre. I still can’t understand the argument. Okay, he’s a superhero, I’m sorry! The next headline: ‘Pattinson retracts: Batman is, in fact, a superhero. He takes it back.'"

The point Pattinson was trying to make last year was that Batman doesn't have actual super-powers and is a little more complex than your typical hero, but some fans were seemingly concerned that he meant this version of the character wouldn't be portrayed in a heroic light. The actor, however, was far more worried about possibly losing out on the role of the Caped Crusader after being asked about reports he'd been cast.

"I hadn’t even done the audition," Pattinson explained. "It’s just nerve-wracking because I was really excited about it and you think: really, is this how I’m going to lose this role? It’s the most annoying circumstances to lose something. Everyone was like: 'Is that true, is that true?' And it wasn’t true at the time, I hadn’t got the job. It was pretty terrifying."

It's definitely going to be interesting to see what the actor brings to the role, especially as the signs are pointing to us getting another movie that delves into Batman's early years as a hero in Gotham.

What do you guys think?

Hit the "Next" button to take a look through our ranking
of the greatest Justice League members of all-time!

40. Stargirl

Recruited to be the face of the government-sanctioned Justice League of America, Stargirl quickly proved to her teammates that she was a real hero and worthy of carrying Starman's legacy.

39. Hawkgirl

We've seen a number of different versions of this character over the years and while many of them have been part of the League, most fans know her best from the Justice League Unlimited series.

38. Catwoman

Selina Kyle had a very brief stint as a member of the Justice League of America after being hired by Amanda Waller and A.R.G.U.S. and she did well as a counterpoint to the Dark Knight.

37. Power Ring

A fairly new addition to the Justice League, Jessica Cruz was cursed with a ring from an alternate Earth which feeds on her fear. With some help from her fellow heroes, she's battled to overcome that.

36. John Constantine

John Constantine is happiest when he's working alone but when the stakes are high enough, the smoking Englishman never hesitates to join up with the rest of the Justice League Dark.

35. Huntress

The latest iteration of this character is the daughter of Batman and Catwoman from an alternate Earth but regardless of which version we're talking about, she's often been key to this team.

34. Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)

An argument could be made that Guy Gardner is the least popular human member of the Green Lantern Corps but it's always been fun watching him come to blows with longtime rival Batman!

33. Mr. Miracle

Brought up on Apokolips and surrounded by horrors thanks to his adoptive father Darkseid, Mr. Miracle ultimately fled from his father and is now one of the greatest escape artists in the DC Universe.

32. Green Lantern (Simon Baz)

Mistakenly viewed as a terrorist, Simon Baz had to do more than most heroes to prove himself and while the team had some doubts at first, he's now a valued member of the Justice League.

31. Swamp-Thing

Alec Holland was a botanist transformed into Swamp-Thing after his death and he since worked to protect the world (and plant life) as one of the strongest members of the Justice League Dark.

30. Red Tornado

An android created by the supervillian T.O. Morrow to infiltrate the Justice Society of America, he soon saw the error of his ways and became an iconic and pivotal part of this iconic group.

29. Vibe

Vibe has an awesome set of powers which include jumping between dimensions and being able to blast enemies off their feet with vibrational waves so you can see why he was recruited to the JLA!

28. Orion

The son of Darkseid was given away as a child and that meant he grew up to become a hero as New Genesis' greatest defender. If it means taking down his father, Orion will always help the League.

27. Dr. Fate

The "Sorcerer Supreme" of the DC Universe, we've seen him working alongside both the JSA and JLA over the years. He was a staple of the team in the 80s and 90s and has helped them a lot since too.

26. Vixen

Vixen has served as both a member of the Justice League and Suicide Squad and her abilities allow her to wield the powers of any animal that has walked or evolved on Earth through the Tantu totem.

25. Lex Luthor

The fact he spent so many years trying to destroy the League means that Lex Luthor simply can't rank higher because while he did some good, that didn't last and he blackmailed his way on to the team!

24. The Atom

Another hero who multiple characters have held the mantle of over the years, Ray Palmer is by far the most popular and didn't hesitate to join the Justice League when the team came calling.

23. Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)

After the fall of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, Kyle Rayner was chosen to protect Earth and while his role within the League was limited, he never once let the team down.

22. Firestorm

A number of different heroes have combined to make Firestorm over the years and this walking nuclear reactor has consistently proven that his powers make him damn near unstoppable.

21. Zatanna

Zatanna may actually be part of the Justice League Dark team but she first served in the Justice League of America and her powerful spells mean she's capable of taking down even Superman!

20. Supergirl

Superman's cousin crashed to Earth as a teenager and various iterations of the character have all played some sort of role within the League at various points since her introduction.

19. Batgirl

An honorary member of the League, Barbara Gordon may not have accompanied the team on too many adventures but it was as Oracle that she was perhaps one of their greatest allies.

18. Phantom Stranger

The Phantom Stranger only tends to appear when events of great magnitudes necessitate his direct involvement but that's led to him working alongside the League on a number of occasions.

17. Elongated Man

Not to be mistaken with another stretchy superhero on this list, the Elongated Man is a top-notch Private Eye who has been right there alongside the League to face some of their greatest threats.

16. Blue Beetle

He may have a reputation as something of a prankster but Ted Kord's scientific genius means he's single-handedly saved the day on more than one occasion and has proved himself to be invaluable.

15. Booster Gold

Arriving in the 21st Century to become the hero he never was in his own time, Booster Gold has a cocky attitude but has proven himself a valuable asset to the team more than once.

14. Plastic Man

You probably think we're joking but despite his daft appearance and wacky powers, this reformed criminal has been a valuable member of the League and is more powerful than he lets on.

13. Cyborg

Victor Stone was once a member of the Teen Titans but The New 52 changed that and he's since become a key part of this team as they're in desperate need of his firepower and technical know how.

12. Shazam

The young Billy Batson only needs to utter a single word to become Shazam and while he may be immature, his magical powers mean he's strong enough to take down even the Man of Steel.

11. Green Lantern (John Stewart)

The man who held the Green Lantern mantle in the Justice League Unlimited animated series has resulted in him being considered THE Green Lantern in the eyes of many comic book fans.

10. Green Arrow

Oliver Queen may have been snubbed by the Justice League when he attempted to join their ranks in "The New 52" but the Emerald Archer has previously been a much-needed member of the team.

9. Hawkman

The Savage Hawkman is infused with the mysterious Nth Metal and he's granted flight, strength and a living armour as a result. With a formidable set of powers, he often helps turn the tide in battle.

8. The Flash (Wally West)

Barry Allen may be considered The Flash but Wally West held the mantle for decades. With his best friend dead, he stepped up to become the new Fastest Man Alive and never let the team down.

7. Aquaman

Despite being considered a joke for years thanks to mainstream media, a much-needed makeover helped change that perception and he's now viewed as on of the DC Universe's biggest badasses.

6. Martian Manhunter

The last surviving Martian, J'onn J'onzz's fight with the League at the start of "The New 52" meant he's only recently joined the team but he's been a faithful ally to them throughout DC history.

5. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)

While it's fair to say that Green Lantern will never get along with Batman, that's never stopped him from using his immeasurable willpower to protect his teammates and our planet.

4. The Flash (Barry Allen)

The Scarlet Speedster is never one to shy away from racing into action and there's a good reason why he's such a beloved and respected member of the team, not to mention its fastest.

3. Wonder Woman

Diana Prince is arguably the heart of the Justice League not to mention one of the team's bravest and most powerful members. Simply put, the League wouldn't be the same without her.

2. Batman

Batman doesn't have the same amazing abilities as his superpowered teammates but he compensates for that with an impressive array of weapons, vehicles, and unparalleled fighting skills.

1. Superman

The most powerful hero in the DC Universe could tackle pretty much any threat by himself but it says a lot about him that he doesn't mind turning to his teammates - and friends - for help saving the world.

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55 Comments

1 2

NotoriousWolf23 - 1/30/2020, 1:11 AM

lol love Rob's sense of humor dude is weird AF, but I think he's gonna prove a lot of people wrong with his portrayal.

Spock0Clock - 1/30/2020, 2:12 AM

@NotoriousWolf23 - We just need a new Superman and hopefully we can give that whole Justice League thing another go.

Doomsday8888 - 1/30/2020, 3:27 AM

@Spock0Clock
*A new Superman movie. :P

Doomsday8888 - 1/30/2020, 3:45 AM

@EmpressCipher
Better a soft reboot than a recast imho.

Franshu - 1/30/2020, 5:07 AM

@Doomsday8888 - @Doomsday8888 - I agree. Cavill wasn't given the chance to shine in the role cause the script SUCKED: Dude is nice AF, and they keep casting him in these hard-edged roles that don't show that side to him. And Superman, which could have been the exception, was turned into this brooding, ever-suffering figure too when it could've worked so much better (fr the character and for Cavill) had he been, you know, a nice person.

Reeds2Much - 1/30/2020, 6:19 AM

@Franshu - Cavill wasn't given the chance to shine in the role cause the script SUCKED

Tom Hardy managed to shine with that shitty Venom script. Nic Cage gets nothing but shitty scripts and he shines every time. Maybe the script is only half of the problem?

Spock0Clock - 1/30/2020, 2:05 AM

This is the kind of nerd fanboy shit I do not dig. Not every actor or producer is going to be perfectly eloquent all the time, guys. There's no need to shame or jump down his throat about something like this, and now I just feel bad for him for ever listening to internet dorks like us like we're some kind of Roman crowd at the Colosseum screaming for bread and circuses.

We (apparently) have the power to reach these folks. Let's send them messages worth hearing, not pedantic bullshit.

Kurne - 1/30/2020, 2:16 AM

I feel like Rob or his PR team or whatever are playing with the underdog thing a bit much. He keeps apologising for little things and saying how he's got a lot to prove, even though all I've seen since he was cast are people clapping back at the first sight of a "that guy from Twilight? REALLY?" comment.

The superhero comment was legit the only real criticism there's been for him I guess. But anyway yeah, it was just annoying because it seems everyone tackling a CBM these days needs validation by saying things like what Rob said ("the character isn't really a superhero, he's more complex than that" *then proceeds to read a list of cliche superhero traits*). Or that the movie will be good because it's not really a superhero movie, etc.

Franshu - 1/30/2020, 5:07 AM

@Kurne - Was there even much of an uproar about it anyway?

RageDriver2401 - 1/30/2020, 2:49 AM

Pattinson would not have been my first pick (or second or third or fourth) for Batman, but I think he's going to do a good job.

I can feel a first look coming soon. Looking forward to this.

OptimusGrime - 1/30/2020, 3:59 AM

Is he jacked though??

Im not accepting a cardio based, cross-fit, pilates in the evening Batman...Hell to the No

RageDriver2401 - 1/30/2020, 5:06 AM

@OptimusGrime - whoa slow down there friend. Woke twitter users are going to accuse you of body shaming if you expect your superheroes to be jacked.

whynot - 1/30/2020, 5:11 AM

@OptimusGrime - was Christian bale or Keaton jacked what about Clooney lol the only Batman that looked jacked is affleck

Victorg1983 - 1/30/2020, 5:43 AM

@whynot - yes affleck was jacked for BVS and was it not nice to see a batman who could actually IDK scare criminals.... instead of some below average size dude running around altering his voice to make it sound like he was a caveman

KWilly - 1/30/2020, 4:15 AM

Oh, he's definitely not gonna do another Batman movie after this. We already pissed him off.

GhostDog - 1/30/2020, 4:21 AM

Thank goodness he has a sense of humor

knocturnalzen10 - 1/30/2020, 6:16 AM

@BlackBeltJones - yea having that will help cause it almost broke Ben , and it wasn't like he was a bad batman IMO ....

Omegacron - 1/30/2020, 9:38 AM

@knocturnalzen10 - The warehouse fight in BvS alone was the single most perfect Batman moment in live-action. It's a shame they couldn't have captured that throughout the two films, because obviously the casting or the suit wasn't the problem.

99OPTIMISTPRIME - 1/30/2020, 4:35 AM

😂Batman at times, has been used as sorta like a vessel for creators, to explore their creative cynicism. Basically he's an incidental antihero, who doesn't really give a sh!t about anybody. Robert Pattinson's comments hinted at that particular take on the character. Some fans dig that version. But I think it's just a lame & lazy take on the character. I don't believe that's what Rob Pattinson will be portraying either. I think what he MEANT to say was, Batman's a "unique superhero.