The B-List: 4 super superhero castings

“The guy from ‘Twilight’ is gonna be Batman?”

From the moment the casting was announced, the ridicule and badmouthing began. It seemed like everyone had an opinion, and it was a polarized one.

Either Robert Pattinson (yes, the emo vampire from “Twilight” — but also an unhinged lighthouse keeper in “The Lighthouse,” and a time-traveling secret agent in “Tenet,” and an ill-fated explorer in “The Lost City of Z”) was going to destroy the hallowed character of Batman/Bruce Wayne, or he was going to be the best Bats the world had ever seen.

Me, personally? For once, I felt like I was one of the few with a less hyperbolic opinion. I certainly didn’t think Pattinson (or RPattz, as he’s known in fandom circles) was going to butcher the part. The man is more talented than the naysayers give him credit for.

But I also wasn’t expecting he’d become the end-all-be-all of Batmans.

(Long-time readers may recall I once did a ranking of everyone who’s donned the pointy-eared cowl — physically or verbally — and remember Kevin Conroy, of “Batman: The Animated Series,” will forever be the definitive Bats in my books.)

Well, “The Batman” finally hit theaters this month after several pandemic-related delays, and my personal verdict? RPattz did a solid job.

His Bats/Bruce isn’t the musclebound power fantasy many expect (especially after Christian Bale and Ben Affleck’s turns in the role).

Instead, he’s an obsessive, grief-fueled, unbalanced young man struggling to find purpose and meaning. This is a take on Batman that focuses more on the “World’s Greatest Detective” aspect of the character rather than the straightforward action hero, and Pattinson does a fantastic job as a man so haunted by his past, so mired in the dark underbelly of Gotham, he’s unable to see the future.

As a whole, the movie is a satisfying, deeply atmospheric noir. Very Batman-by-way-of-David-Fincher, with a story centered on organized crime and a serial killer Riddler. You sink into “The Batman” from the first scene, to the point where you feel like you’re actually in Gotham rather than a theater. It’s more of an experience than a film.

So while I won’t say Pattinson is the new gold standard for Bats, I will say his take on the character was interesting — and one I’d like to see more of, which is more than I could say about Bale or Affleck.

While we’re on the subject, though, how about we look at four truly perfect, inspired superhero casting choices? The actors who truly seemed to have been born for the roles, like:

1. Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool

Talk about one of the most obvious decisions in casting history.

Gee, who should we get to play the “Merc With a Mouth,” an unkillable assassin/anti-hero who constantly breaks the fourth wall, spouts pop culture references and always has a quippy comeback for the baddies?

We need someone fit, someone who can convincingly fight and looks good in a skintight suit, who can be charming and silly and also a massive jerk, yet still make us care about him by the end credits?

Someone who just happens to also be Canadian and a giant nerd?

It’s like they grew Ryan Rodney Reynolds in a lab to play Wade Winston Wilson. Reynolds himself campaigned tirelessly for the part, and has showered Deadpool fans with in-character love in person and online for years.

Nobody else alive would’ve been a better Wade, and I truly hope they fold him into the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper now that the Multiverse storylines — and a business deal with Sony — have made that possible.

2. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

Here’s another case where the actor really pushed for and championed the role. Robbie put her entire backside into playing Harley, first in the “Suicide Squad” films and then in her own vehicle, “Birds of Prey” — which deserved to do SO MUCH better at the box office; I blame the pandemic (partially) and misogynistic fanboys (mostly) for that.

While other actors are content to let their stunt doubles handle the tricky stuff, Robbie committed to intensive acrobatic training to fully embody the role. That scene in the first “Suicide Squad,” where Harley runs up the side of an elevator in stiletto-heeled boots and the tiniest of short-shorts? That was Robbie.

Seasoned stunt performers have praised her work and drive, and the behind-the-scenes training footage is as fun to watch as the finished product. That adage about women having to do things backwards and in heels? Robbie kicks butt in heels, and on roller skates, and while handcuffed.

The Australian, two-time-Academy-Award-nominated actress also nails Harley’s Brooklyn-style accent, mental imbalance, Joker-induced trauma and psychologist sharpness. Her Harley is ballsy, bold, broken and a whole lotta fun to watch wreaking havoc.

3. Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman

Chances are, Reeve was your first Superman. And like your first Doctor (Who, that is), you never forget your first Supes.

It helps Reeve essentially broke the mold for the character in his first appearance, 1978′s “Superman.” To this day, nobody else has better embodied both sides of the character: the aw-shucks Kansas farmboy Clark Kent AND the god-like Kryptonian Kal-El/Superman. Dean Cain came close in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” but Reeve still has him beat.

What made Reeve so perfect in the role is he understood this messianic figure is, at his core, a decent, kind, humble man.

Sure, Clark has more power than anyone else on the planet. He’s nearly impervious to harm. He can fly, he can see through walls, he can melt objects with a glare.

But none of that is who he really is. He’s the son of Martha and Jonathan Kent, who raised him to be a good man, not a god. To be gentle and mindful of those around him. To use his powers to help humanity, who he loves and admires rather than looks down upon as inferior.

Clark is an optimist. He only uses force when necessary. He’d rather help than harm, and can only harm when there’s no other option.

Reeve’s Superman is a true Boy Scout, and I’m using that as a term of endearment rather than a condemnation. He doesn’t need to be dark and angsty to be interesting, because decency and goodness can absolutely be compelling — and are way more worthwhile qualities than most current media would have you believe.

His Clark/Supes is a man who respects ladies. Who looks at feisty Lois Lane like she hung the moon. Who makes himself physically smaller to be less intimidating around others. Every part of his performance shines on the screen, which is just what you expect and need from a sun-powered superhero.

4. Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America

While we’re on the subject of perfect Boy Scouts — just how great is Evans as Cap? In terms of looks and physique, of course he’s wonderful, that ideal balance between soft and hard, handsome and capable.

But he also does a superb job conveying Steve’s inherent nobility and fire, too. First and foremost, Captain America is a good man, then a good soldier. It’s bullies he hates, not countries or ethnic groups; he’ll fight tyranny and oppression wherever he finds it, even in his own government. Especially in his own government. And Evans really sells that conviction to us.

Truly, Evans is so fantastic as Steve Rogers it’s impossible for me to picture anyone else doing the part half so well. This is another one of those “they must’ve grown him in a lab” situations.

And when you consider Evans has struggled with life-long anxiety issues, to the point where he’s often considered giving up acting/life in the public eye for his own peace of mind, that adds an amount of poignancy to his performances as Cap.

Steve Rogers never wanted to be an icon, either, to be put on a pedestal or become a symbol others rallied to — he just wanted to do the right thing, to stop a war, to prevent the bullies from winning. He keeps pushing on and doing what needs to be done, even though it costs him a lot.

And Evans — who talks openly about his anxiety because he knows it helps others cope, who calls out bigotry and bullies online and uses his clout to help worthy causes, who really loves his dog and family and is a big ol’ nerd about Disney movies and NASA — seems like a quality dude you’d be proud to follow into battle. One Cap himself would admire.

• ANGIE BARRYis a contributing columnist for Shaw Media. To suggest future topics for The B-List, which covers topics in pop culture, history and literature, contact her at newsroom@mywebtimes.com.