The 'Twilight' actor has reportedly pipped Nicholas Hoult to the post

We could definitely see this working.

It'd be an undoubtedly interesting casting, but Robert Pattinson has long proven that he's more than just a glittery heartthrob vampire, and is actually a very capable actor.

So the rumours that he is in "final negotiations" to be the next Batman are intriguing, to say the least.

According to Variety, the 33-year-old Londoner is set to replace Ben Affleck as the next Caped Crusader in 2021 film 'The Batman' - although Deadline reports that Nicholas Hoult is also very much in the running.

Either way, a younger Dark Knight is on the way. 'The Batman' director Matt Reeves previously claimed that he was looking for a more youthful actor to take the reins from Affleck. If confirmed, Pattinson would be the second-youngest actor to play the role of Bruce Wayne.

Deadline say that both Pattinson and Hoult are at the top of Reeves' shortlist, but judging by the social media reaction to Pattinson's name being thrown into the mix, it's clear who the fans want...

With pre-production on 'The Batman' set to begin this summer, we can expect an official announcement from Warner Bros. soon.

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