The Batman production halted as Robert Pattinson reportedly has COVID-19

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Production on The Batman initially shut down in March and only just recently resumed

(Image credit: DC/Warner Bros.)

Robert Pattinson has reportedly contracted COVID-19, causing production on The Batman to halt.

As reported by Vanity Fair, Pattinson tested positive for coronavirus just days after shooting resumed following a months-long shutdown, starting in March, due to the pandemic. Warner Bros. declined to confirm or deny the report, instead issuing a statement reading: "A member of The Batman production has tested positive for COVID-19, and is isolating in accordance with established protocols. Filming is temporarily paused."

Matt Reeves' The Batman was originally scheduled to release in June 2021, but was pushed back to October that same year. The story follows Pattinson as a younger, less experienced Batman navigating his responsibilities to Gotham City as well as past trauma. Pattinson is joined in the ensemble cast by Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Jeffrey Wright, Peter Sarsgaard, Barry Keoghan, and Jayme Lawson.

Reeves recently spoke about his vision for Pattinson's more vulnerable Batman: "I just felt like well, what I'd love to do is to get a version of this Batman character where he's not yet fully formed. Where there's something to do in this context with who that guy would be in this world today, and to ground him in all of these broken ways. Because at the end of the day, this guy is doing all of this to deal with trauma in his past." The director also confirmed at DC Fandome that the story will centre on Batman Year Two. 

Here's wishing Pattinson a swift recovery.

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.