Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images

Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — With Ben Affleck hanging up his cape as the Caped Crusader, Warner Bros. has been looking for the next Batman — and Variety reports Robert Pattinson has emerged as the front-runner.

The role is for writer/director Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which reportedly will focuses on the earlier days of the Dark Knight’s crimefighting career. At one point, Affleck was to star and direct, but later handed the keys to Reeves, who called the shots on both Rise of the Planet of the Apes and that reboot trilogy’s capper, War of the Planet of the Apes.

Eventually, Affleck stepped away from the cape and cowl for good, making Justice League his last turn as the Dark Knight.

While the deal isn’t set, and other names being bandied about include Armie Hammer, Nicholas Hoult and Avengers: Age of Ultron alum Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the Hollywood trade say it’s former Twilight star Pattinson,  who has the “inside track.”

Incidentally, Pattinson, 33, is about to start shooting the secretive next film from Christopher Nolan, who directed the acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy.

The Batman is slated for a 2021 release.

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