Origin stories may be a thing of the past. Most moviegoers do not want to have to sit through the same old reasons some tragedy helps a person become the titular hero. And it looks like we won’t see that in Matt Reeves‘ The Batman.

According to new reports, the film, which is currently in development and has just signed on Robert Pattinson to play Batman, will center on the Dark Knight’s formative years as a hero as opposed to retreading familiar ground. More on the report below.

THR did an extensive report on how the casting of Pattinson came so quickly. The search actually started back in March of this year, with Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult being at the top of the list. Additionally, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Armie Hammer were reportedly on the same shortlist, but Pattinson and Hoult were the top contenders.

But even before Pattinson was cast, Reeves didn’t know if the actor wanted the part. It was clear that the actor wasn’t vying for big studio roles with his turn in smaller films post-Twilight. But it was those decisions that made him more appealing to Reeves. And because he had not appeared in a Marvel film yet made him an even bigger catch. While there isn’t anything that prevents these big name actors from appearing in both Marvel and DC films, both studios believe that when “cross-pollination” does happen it can weaken both brands, confuse fans, and make marketing more difficult.

But that isn’t exactly the reason why Hoult did not get the gig.

Reeves came to the decision after hours spent considering the work that both actors have done, such as Good Time and High Life for Pattinson and the Planet of the Apes franchise and The Favourite for Hoult. Ultimately it was Pattinson’s work in Good Time and High Life that Reeves found himself returning to again and again.

For the test, it has become customary for actors in question to put on batsuit from the previous films during the audition. For Reeves, he was looking for something specific from these actors. According to one insider who spoke to THR, Reeves knew what he was looking for.

And it was during the writing process that he started to envision actors playing Batman. THR reveals that Reeves wrote the titular character as being around 30 years of age. But here is where it gets interesting. The story that Reeves came up with is set somewhere between the Dark Knight’s origin story and the legendary protector of Gotham he becomes. In it, Bruce Wayne well on his way to becoming a brilliant detective but is still trying to figure some things out.

This may hint at some aspects of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, with the detective portions resembling that of Nolan’s The Dark Knight. But it will be interesting to see much more of a detective-noir driven Batman.

The tentatively titled The Batman opens in theaters on June 25, 2021.

[Source: THR]