Kurt Cobain remains one of the most influential musicians of the modern era, so it’s certainly no surprise that The Batman director Matt Reeves wholeheartedly believes both individuals relate on a particular level of grunginess and reclusiveness.
In an October 2021 interview with Empire, Matt Reeves interestingly compared Robert Pattinson’s upcoming Bruce Wayne portrayal to the Nirvana frontman. “He’s [Batman] also got that Kurt Cobain thing, where he looks like a rock star, but you also feel like he could be a recluse,” the director insisted.
Recently, the architect of the Dark Knight’s latest reboot sat down with Esquire, where he once again attributed Cobain’s influence as a source of inspiration for The Batman.
“Early on, when I was writing, I started listening to Nirvana, and there was something about [Nevermind song] ‘Something in the Way’, which is in the first trailer, which is part of the voice of that character. When I considered, ‘How do you do Bruce Wayne in a way that hasn’t been seen before?’ I started thinking, ‘What if some tragedy happened [ie: Wayne sees his parents murdered] and this guy becomes so reclusive, we don’t know what he’s doing? Is this guy some kind of wayward, reckless, drug addict?’ And the truth is that he is a kind of drug addict. His drug is his addiction to this drive for revenge. He’s like a Batman Kurt Cobain.”
While Bruce Wayne’s typically refined billionaire look has made a strong appearance in prior live-action outings for the Dark Knight, Pattinson has further reimagined Reeves’ recluse theory by claiming that his portrayal in The Batman will be far less than a traditional hero.
The Batman is scheduled for release on March 4, 2022.
