The Dark Knight Rises Christian Bale Rules Out Robin For Batman 3 (and beyond)

[Cunning Stunts]

Did you genuinely believe that Christopher Nolan would ever consider casting Frankie Muniz as Robin?

I simply believed it to be a rumor. Didn't know if it was true or not.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Honestly, go to Hell Nolan and Bale. Robin is so important to the Batman character. It's Batman's first attempts at piecing together a makeshift family after the loss of his own. Something so essential in his development. To dismiss it as both light or unnecessary...well, I guess now we have a second round of people directing Batman movies that have no business with the character.

 

[Cunning Stunts]

Maybe Bale's just pulling our legs with his attitude toward Robin? I guess we won't know until it happens.

 

[REDophile]

Before starting TDK, I remember Nolan admitting that he would never include Robin as long as he directed. Other than citing the campy interpretations of the character, he also said that Dick Grayson is a little boy in his universe.
Regardless, I have a hard time believing that Bale would say such a thing, he seems like a very nice guy in real life. But there was that speech at the MTV movie awards about the "bloody nipples." I agreed with him about that though.

 

[spideymouse]

Me too. Batman's little orphan life companion should stay far, far away from this franchise. If he needs backup, he's already got it in Gordan, and I can't see why you'd need Robin in a more serious, darker Batman anyways.

He also apparently has a whole legion of bats as his "backup".

 

[Keyser Soze]

Honestly, go to Hell Nolan and Bale. Robin is so important to the Batman character. It's Batman's first attempts at piecing together a makeshift family after the loss of his own. Something so essential in his development. To dismiss it as both light or unnecessary...well, I guess now we have a second round of people directing Batman movies that have no business with the character.

The first being, who, Schumacher? And hmm... the introduction of what character signalled the start of that downward spiral? The film that almost killed Batman as a viable screen franchise was called "Batman & ???"....

In the comics, Robin serves a crucial role - both Dick Grayson and Tim Drake are great characters in their own right. In the films, especially with the tone set up in Nolan's films, I just don't see how the character could work.

 

[Keyser Soze]

is christian bale an idiot? did he see thye ROAD TO PERDITION? mix THAT WITH DARK VICTORY AND THATS EXACTLY HOW ROBIN COULD WORK IN NOLANS FILMS!! if nolan wont do it THEN GET SAM MENDES TO DIRECT BATMAN!!!

Hello again SpiderFreddie.

 

[Two-Face]

Some people here need to calm down, yes Robin is important to Batman world but Nolan & Co don't need to use him if they don't want to. I'm happy in which they decide to go with the franchise.

 

[terry78]

Me personally, I disagree with their choice, as a fan. It's their flick, so they can do what they want, but many a writer has been able to utilize the Boy Wonder without adding camp or kitsch, so it seems like a challenge they'd be more than up for.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

It's very unfortunate that Bale seems so stubbornly set against the idea of Robin.

I agree with most of his and Nolan's ideas on the character and the series, but they are way off when it comes to Robin.

There's no problem in not liking the character and preferring to keep him out of the series, but Bale seems to be getting downright disrespectful when it comes to Robin. There has been a lot of very talented writers and artists that put a lot of fantastic work into that character, going right back to his creation. To dismiss all that as campy garbage is to give a big middle finger to all of those creators, who at the same time you seem to revere for their work on the big bad dark Batman. It's a bit hypocritical.

It's not like Robin was some late-in-the game bad idea addition. He's been around only a year less than Batman himself! You don't endure for that long if you suck that bad.

This series is going to need new life for a third film, or especially a fourth film. Forget the villains; there are only so many places you can the Batman character - Begins showed the naive beginner, TDK will show the transition into the grizzled vet doomed to be Batman forever - the only place for the third film to go, without meandering, is to begin that surrogate family building. It's called character development.

 

[Mandalore464]

Well, Robin IS part of the Batman mythos whether people like it or not. But I don't think Bale's been disrespectful of the character, or maybe I haven't read the interview in question, cause I don't read everything.

Basically what he said was that with the take Chris Nolan took on the Batman story, Robin would be out of place. It's, well, again, a problem of realism I think. How can you expect people to believe that someone like Batman would allow a teenager to go out with him at night?

Maybe some writers could pull it off. I know I couldn't, but then again I'm not paid to do so.

Also, if Robin was introduced in the Nolan verse, it would require a lot of modifications that would, well, not make him Robin anymore. I'm not talking makeup instead of permawhite here, I'm talking adult Robin, wearing a very dark outfit, maybe with a cowl on to better conceal his identity... That kind of changes.

And then we'd read everywhere "Thanks for Robin but that's not Robin, not faithful to the comics, too drastic changes, feck the realism...". I mean seriously, be careful of what you ask for, cause there's no way you're gonna get comics Robin in a Nolan film.

And although I would deal with it because of how important he is to the general Batman storyline, I really have no interest in the character and the franchise is better-off without him so far.

 

[Batteen87]

Do you guys want a crappy version of Robin in the third movie? Because that's exactly what it would be. Nolan doesn't care for the character and it would be another Venom situation.

 

[sdc10]

I personally believe these films just do not need robin in them. Whats so great about them is the interaction between Batman and the villains. Half of the movie would have to be taken up just by introducing robin, i.e. family killed followed by him getting trained and so forth. I think that would just take away from the movie.

 

[Microchip]

Nolan and Bale have turned Batman credible again. If they feel that Robin isn't the right direction for the franchise, then I believe them. If we get to Batman 4, maybe. But there's still enough to happen without the guy for another movie at least.

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

I agree with Joblo.com that Robin just wouldn't work in a Nolan film unless you make Bruce/Batman like he is in Frank Miller's All-Star Batman & Robin, a real grumpy, peevish, hardassed-bastard who treats Robin not as an heir or little boy but a whipping post whom he can bark out orders to and slap around. Robin however knows Bruce is only doing this to prepare him physically and mentally for the dangers of his life.

I would want that. Make it dark, like make it where Alfred and us question Bruce's motives or parenting. Sometimes we see Bruce become abusive and cruel, almost making us want to hate it, it isn't till the end where we forgive him as an audience, Robin becomes the man or Boy Wonder we want him to be, and Bruce forgives himself for his actions.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

Well, Robin IS part of the Batman mythos whether people like it or not. But I don't think Bale's been disrespectful of the character, or maybe I haven't read the interview in question, cause I don't read everything.

Basically what he said was that with the take Chris Nolan took on the Batman story, Robin would be out of place. It's, well, again, a problem of realism I think. How can you expect people to believe that someone like Batman would allow a teenager to go out with him at night?

Um...because people have been "believing" it for 70 years?

People will buy anything you put out there when it comes to Batman, I don't care how realistic this series is supposed to be. When you say the word "Batman", 99% of audiences automatically put aside their disbelief and expect a wild ride.

There are very few things a Batman movie couldn't do, at least with any filmmaker worth their salt.

Believe it or not, but it wasn't Robin or Mr. Freeze that destroyed the last series. It was awful, awful writing. Anything can be done, if done well.

 

[Microchip]

Well, not in the established new franchise. I can't see Ivy, Croc or Freeze in there without some extreme character rewriting. Its kind of like when Marvel goes nuts and have aliens, robots and clones running here there and everywhere in Iron Man. However, after the Iron Man film, they wouldn't be able to put these in the next movie, no matter how they dressed it up, they've already established that as something that won't happen.

Robin probably would work if done right. But if Nolan doesn't want it, I can't see it happening, and I don't think enough people want it that badly that he should try.

 

[Venom 1988]

Well, not in the established new franchise. I can't see Ivy, Croc or Freeze in there without some extreme character rewriting. Its kind of like when Marvel goes nuts and have aliens, robots and clones running here there and everywhere in Iron Man. However, after the Iron Man film, they wouldn't be able to put these in the next movie, no matter how they dressed it up, they've already established that as something that won't happen.

Robin probably would work if done right. But if Nolan doesn't want it, I can't see it happening, and I don't think enough people want it that badly that he should try.

Croc is easy. Hesis just a deformed thug with a skin disease. And technically Croc is already in this franchise, hes in Gotham Knight.

 

[spideymouse]

Well, not in the established new franchise. I can't see Ivy, Croc or Freeze in there without some extreme character rewriting. Its kind of like when Marvel goes nuts and have aliens, robots and clones running here there and everywhere in Iron Man. However, after the Iron Man film, they wouldn't be able to put these in the next movie, no matter how they dressed it up, they've already established that as something that won't happen.

Robin probably would work if done right. But if Nolan doesn't want it, I can't see it happening, and I don't think enough people want it that badly that he should try.

Yeah... Raimi didn't want Venom, but people wanted it badly enough that he was forced to try, and look at the result.

 

[Two-Face]

Yeah... Raimi didn't want Venom, but people wanted it badly enough that he was forced to try, and look at the result.

SM2 is better than SM3... I don't want Nolan to be forced into something he doesn't want to do.

 

[Microchip]

SM2 is better than SM3... I don't want Nolan to be forced into something he doesn't want to do.

Exactly what I meant.

Croc is easy. Hesis just a deformed thug with a skin disease. And technically Croc is already in this franchise, hes in Gotham Knight.

I haven't seen that actually, I wasn't aware it was part of the same universe. And I've only ever seen Croc in the HUSH comic, where he's pretty much a dinosaur in a trenchcoat. If that's not how he normally is, I suppose he could work.

 

[wootbaby]

I'd love to see robin in nolans batman universe. Robin has greatly evolved beyond the "HOLY RUSTED METAL BATMAN". The kid can be just as serious and badass as his adult counterpart. The stigma of Adam west tv show and the goofy sidekicks of the era have have harder to clean then what it did to their bosses.

there's definitely a way to make Robin awesome on screen... particularly Dick Grayson. grayson is the "world's greatest acrobat" and using live motion as a medium as opposed to flat panel in comics the potential to make the action/fight scenes with robin sooooo cool exists in movies in a way you couldn't convey in comics.

the best physical embodiment of Robin is ironically an ASIAN actor named Tony Jaa. He's about the size of an adult Nightwing and he too is the world's greatest acrobat. Look how this guy moves, he's untouchable exactly the way Dick Grayson would be in a fight. Towards the end of this clip from Ong Bak is a scene where tony literally runs down the alley ON the shoulders and heads of the bad guys before they can react. This is the type of energy and dynamism of Robin that's never been shown, and why audiences would connect with him. What's NEVER been captured on film is the idea that this man is the greatest human (non-enhanced) embodiment of spiderman... but since he's human you dont use CGI you use the sickest human stunts possible using walls, furniture, other ppl as props.

now do you cast some asian dude for a batman movie? no obviously no one wants that but that's the type of energy robin character could bring if properly utilized on screen. imagine a movie where robin is jumping over ppl and bouncing off walls as a distraction while batman moves in from the shadows and just CRUSHES dudes

that's talking about action--what insipid audiences looking at a summer movie would like. thematically Robin has always been problematic in the Batman universe. it's always been problematic and frankly inconsistent for batman who knows better than anyone the danger and emotional dehabilitation that crime-fighting entails. he would NEVER subject a kid to the same life. sure bruce wayne might take care of Dick and Tim and dozens of kids like em and find families and schools for them but he'd never bring them so close... the chance of collateral damage would be a price too high for a "protector" like him would ever pay. even the writers know this: batman would never want robin to exist... that's why there's always a duex ex mechanism for how robin actually breaks down that barrier... something stupid like how he "finds" the batcave or he steals hubcaps off the batmobile...

robin was created SOLELY to sell comic books to kids in the 40s after the success of Billy Batson. and he has ALWAYS existed to serve as the foil for batman, in everything from demeanor to bright costume, fighting style, personality etc. the poster above talks about how a "dark robin" is cool. hell no how is that cool? a dark robin is even lamer than a bright fruity robin (which is damn lame already). a "dark" robin basically is a "mini" batman... basically giving up on the Robin character and deciding the only way to make him workable is to retool him into a mini batman.

that is lame... either DO NOT HAVE the character (best choice) but if you're determined to have the character then retain the thematic elements of it, imploding the character and reinventing him is lamer than anything else. Even the very concept of Nightwing is basically giving up on Robin and writers making the best of it by creating a entirely new character.

Then what? instead of just batman, or batman & robin now you have 2 dark brooding batmen. why the hell do you need TWO batmen in a batman comic? you dont... that's why nightwing had to leave town or you get a new robin.

the same dynamic exists for any batman movie... you do not need robin as "heir" or backup batman. IF he exists he MUST exist as a foil to batman... he will NEVER grow up to be batman. where does something like that fit in Nolan's universe? no where

 

[Microchip]

God, I hate Robin. If they reinvent him as being Asian, whatever. Go right ahead. He certainly needs some reinventing. Theres a picture earlier in this thread where he's kneeling in front of Bats with his cape pulled over his face. Looks like an idiot. That guy can NOT be menacing.

 

[Venom 1988]

I haven't seen that actually, I wasn't aware it was part of the same universe. And I've only ever seen Croc in the HUSH comic, where he's pretty much a dinosaur in a trenchcoat. If that's not how he normally is, I suppose he could work.

Yea as of lately they basically made Croc into a Knock off Lizard.

 

[wootbaby]

God, I hate Robin. If they reinvent him as being Asian, whatever. Go right ahead. He certainly needs some reinventing. Theres a picture earlier in this thread where he's kneeling in front of Bats with his cape pulled over his face. Looks like an idiot. That guy can NOT be menacing.

lol NO im not talking about making him asian. I'm saying

1) he's never logicially fit into batman's universe... EVER... he certainly doesn't need to be in Nolan's batman
2) but if you MUST have Robin in a movie, make him robin, not a totally different character who happens to be named Robin. there are aspects of the character you could leverage through proper fight choreography to make him cool even if he's a total foil to batman (aka gay tights)
3) robin is even lamer in TV and movies than he is in comics because so far directors have had no idea how to use him (other than as mechandising)