First look at Robert Pattinson as Batman

Pattinson will take on the role of the caped crusader in the upcoming 'The Batman'

Robert Pattinson will play the caped crusader in the upcoming film 'The Batman', directed by Matt Reeves. AFP 

Batman fans have been given their first look at Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader.

In a 55-second video posted to Twitter by The Batman director Matt Reeves, Pattinson can be seen in the famous bat suit for the first time.

The dimly lit footage, shot by cinematographer Greig Fraser, slowly pans across parts of the suit up to Pattinson's face, obscured by the famous black mask. The video, which Reeves labelled as a camera test, is set to a score by Michael Giacchino.

Pattinson, who shot to fame as teenage vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, has avoided the spotlight in recent years, evolving from a teenage heartthrob to an indie darling.

He recently starred in acclaimed French director Claire Denis's sci-fi mystery High Life, which earned him critical praise.

As Batman, Pattinson will be replacing Ben Affleck who retired from the role after playing Bruce Wayne in 2016's Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017's Justice League.

According to Affleck he just "couldn't get the role right".

"Part of the problem was that we worked on the script and I was trying to figure out how to kind of crack it. I was never happy enough with it where I thought it was worth actually going out and making it because I just didn't want to do a version that I wasn't really excited by," Affleck said.

Filming of The Batman is currently underway, with a release date expected in June 2021.