2022 Rewind: Robert Pattinson Talks Getting Buff for 'The Batman'
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Being in good shape is a prerequisite for any action hero, so it was surprising to learn that Robert Pattinson initially said he was taking a different approach for his role as the titular character in "The Batman" (in theaters on March 3).
"I think if you're working out all the time, you're part of the problem," Pattinson said in an interview with GQ in 2020. "You set a precedent. No one was doing this in the '70s. Even James Dean, he wasn't exactly ripped."
"In that same interview," Men's Health writes, "Pattinson explained how he had been given a Bosu ball and some weights to work out with, but was 'barely doing anything' with them."
However, he came to regret his remarks. In an interview with the website MovieMaker.com, he said: "That really came back to haunt me," Pattinson said about his workout 'joke'. "I just always think it's really embarrassing to talk about how you're working out. I think it's like an English thing. Unless you are in the most unbelievable shape, where people are just genuinely curious, going, 'How have you achieved, like, physical perfection?' or whatever."
He added: "You're playing Batman," Pattinson said, "you have to work out. I think I was doing the interview when I was in lockdown, as well, in England...I was in a lower gear of working out."
But as anyone who has seen the film's trailer will see that Pattinson was in a higher gear during his training, which he talked about with On Demand Entertainment.
"Training's a lot more fun when you get good at it," he said. "Once you pass over the six-week mark then it's alright, then you feel bad if you're not doing it. It's kind of what everyone says.
"But no matter how many times you realize: if I just maintain it it's going to be great and I won't have to experience the bad part again, as soon as the job's done it's like no. I'm not going to train once."
In fact, he undertook "months" of physical preparation for the acclaimed role, reported People Magazine.
"I had about three months before the movie started, and then you're working out before and after work all the time,"he told Peopleon "The Batman" premiere red carpet Tuesday night. "You just cut down and cut down and cut down before the couple of scenes with your shirt off, and you're counting sips of water."
Pattinson said that knowing that he had to go shirtless in the movie was motivating.
"Oh yeah," the star told People with a laugh. "Shame is my biggest motivator, 100%."
The worst part of the process, he said, was the diet. "I never want to see a piece of white fish with just lemon on it ever again," said Pattinson.
The 35-year old actor also went shirtless for the fashion campaign for Dior Homme, reported the website The Fashionista.
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