'The Batman' producer explains Robert Pattinson casting: 'We were moved by his fearlessness'

Watch: Dylan Clark discusses Robert Pattinson's The Batman casting backlash

The Batman producer Dylan Clark says the intervention of Christian Bale to defend Robert Pattinson's casting as Batman was 'sweet' and helpful.

There was some disquiet among Batman fans when Pattinson, who remains best known in some quarters as the star of the Twilight franchise, was announced to lead Matt Reeves' franchise reboot, which comes to IMAX and cinemas on 4 March, with IMAX previews on 3 March.

Clark, the producer of the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy, told Yahoo that he and the other members of The Batman team 'don't really listen' to fan backlash of that kind.

Read more: Christian Bale voted best ever Batman

He added: "I think our job is to go: 'Who's the most quality, perfect guy that you could partner with to make a Batman movie?' Robert, to us, clearly was the most gifted of that age range of actors.

"We had watched his work and we were so moved by his fearlessness. There's a subjectivity to this."

Clark pointed out that it is not uncommon for fans to disagree with major casting decisions, only to change their tune when they actually see the finished movie.

Read more: Christian Bale reveals he turned down a fourth Batman film

He said that this was even the case for Christopher Nolan's beloved trilogy of Batman films, which drew controversy for the casting of Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker.

Clark added: "Batman has been around for so long and everybody feels like they have their best Batman. They didn't like Heath when he was announced. They didn't like Bale when he was announced.

"Bale has been so sweet to Robert in the press early, [saying] 'tune it out, just do your work and then when they see the movie, people will make up their own minds'.

"I think we're at that place now where I feel very certain that Robert is gonna be a great Batman for the fans."

The Batman depicts Bruce Wayne in the early years of his vigilante career, attempting to track down the mysterious Riddler — a serial killer taking out high-ranking figures in Gotham City with connections to some sort of conspiracy.

Read more: Paul Dano on Riddler's costume and Zodiac inspirations

Clark said that there's potential for this cast of characters – which also includes Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon – to be explored further in other Batman films.

He added: "We really focused on this standalone Batman and making sure this movie was as good as we could possibly make it. The hope of course is that fans and audiences turn out in big numbers and say that they want more."

Clark, though, said it's unlikely that Robert Pattinson's take on Batman will ever become a part of a wider universe of DC properties, as Ben Affleck's Batman did in Justice League.

"I don't know whether it would ever connect into a larger DC universe or those kinds of things," said Clark.

Read more: How The Batman leans into being a detective story

He added: "There hadn't been a [solo] Batman movie in 10 years, so we were just about making this one it's own proper, standalone story."

Reeves has already signed up to develop a TV series set in the same universe as The Batman, which will explore the corruption within the Gotham City Police Department.

The Batman is in IMAX and cinemas from 4 March, with IMAX previews from 3 March.

Watch: Trailer for Robert Pattinson's take on Bruce Wayne in The Batman