Dick Grayson Casting Thread

[shauner111]

Oh god Eddie not this again..

A 19 year old Noah Jupe playing a 16 year old is more than fine.

 

[Rick190293]

Haven’t seen A Quiet Place 2 yet but I’m all about Noah Jupe for Dick Grayson. Let’s see what happens with his height and voice soon but I believe he’s 15 or 16 at the moment. So he’s 20 years younger than Rob.

If Noah is 18 when Reeves introduces him into the sequel, he can probably pass for a 15 or 16 year old.

He was great in it. Really hope Reeves use Robin at some point (specially Grayson), the character deserves it.

 

[Airwings]

He doesn’t have the tough side that Dick needs as a vigilante IMO.

It shouldn't just be a tough guy or cool guy for the character. What we need is an actor, with good enough acting skills to convince us he's Dick Grayson. Every part of him, also the Robin persona.

Jaeden somehow looks like what Grayson should in a modern live action version.
Maybe a bit brooding though.

Jupe has more of the lighter going, fun-loving persona while he also can act serious.
But perhaps we shouldn't only look at previous roles.

All these actors will be too old

I fear that you might be right befoe not too long. Jaeden is already 18.
Batman will come next year, and perhaps Reeves is going to start working on a sequel in 2023. Which could come out three years later. By that point, the actor will be 23 by the time of release. How much older would he appear by then? We can't be sure.

Levi Miller is another candidate. He's born in 2002.
In his latest film Streamline, he plays a 15-year old. He could play Dick Grayson right now, but not in five years.

 

[shauner111]

I never said they need a tough guy or cool guy. I said the actor needs to be able to get tough when necessary. I don’t see it with wimpy willow from IT. I also see more angst in Jupe.

 

[Airwings]

I never said they need a tough guy or cool guy. I said the actor needs to be able to get tough when necessary. I don’t see it with wimpy willow from IT. I also see more angst in Jupe.

Who knows if Jaeden is able to be convincing when he fights thugs in the street?
He's matured a bit during the four years since IT (2017) and it may be yet another four years before he's Robin (if he's cast at all).
That would make him 8 years older than the "wimpy willow" as you called him.

Jupe doing both lighter and angsty stuff might give him the No 1 position on the shortlist

 

[Babillygunn]

I’d go with Noah Jupe

 

[Airwings]

Aidan Gallagher has been lifted up as a candidate. Judging by his looks and fan-made pics I've found, he's one of the obvious choices for the role.

But WB may go for an unexpected actor, a not so obvious one. Who knows?
All it needs is someone who's young, can act, and is not too wooden.

I wonder if another from Gallagher's old Nickelodeon show - Mace Coronel - will be considered by the studio.
He's done some small projects and could be on his way to be a real actor.
But he doesn't look like the character. Will it speak in his favour or not?

 

[Airwings]

For comparison, here's Mace Coronel since he left Nickelodeon

 

[DeadlyWest]

Aidan Gallagher has been lifted up as a candidate. Judging by his looks and fan-made pics I've found, he's one of the obvious choices for the role.

But WB may go for an unexpected actor, a not so obvious one. Who knows?
All it needs is someone who's young, can act, and is not too wooden.

I wonder if another from Gallagher's old Nickelodeon show - Mace Coronel - will be considered by the studio.
He's done some small projects and could be on his way to be a real actor.
But he doesn't look like the character. Will it speak in his favour or not?

This is my personal pick honestly. Only 17, which would put him at 20-21ish depending on when Batman 2 gets made

 

[Airwings]

This is my personal pick honestly. Only 17, which would put him at 20-21ish depending on when Batman 2 gets made

We all tend to go for the ones that look like the character

I'm just starting to think about the actors who don't give off any Grayson/Robin vibe at all.
What if a few among them are the best choices for the character, despite not looking like he does in the comic books?
I don't say Mace Coronel is THAT guy. I only mentioned him as possible because of his age.
If Aidan could break free from Nickelodeon, why can't his former co-star do the same?

 

[The Lazarus Pit]

I like Jacob Tremblay for this. I think he’s one of the best actors in his age group. I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen, and he’s the right age for it.

 

[Airwings]

I like Jacob Tremblay for this. I think he’s one of the best actors in his age group. I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen, and he’s the right age for it.

He's really talented. I like that he did some more "serious" roles after Room. But then he went full comedy with Good Boys.

Another skilled young actor, is Milo Parker. He's from UK, and has stayed mostly under the radar.
It can bring in another possibility, a British (or Aussie) actor playing Robin. Will it work for Robin or is it a bad idea? Should WB only go for Americans?

Here's pic of Milo from 2019. He's obviously taller today. Does he have a Dick Grayson vibe?

EDIT This one looks more recent

 

[BarryLyndon]

How would you guys interpret a young boy fighting crimes in this type of universe?

Like how would it be justified to bring a minor in this battle? Why would Bruce adopt him?

Would love to read your take on it, I just dont know how he can works!

 

[Invader Joker]

How would you guys interpret a young boy fighting crimes in this type of universe?

Like how would it be justified to bring a minor in this battle? Why would Bruce adopt him?

Would love to read your take on it, I just dont know how he can works!

That it'd make Bruce look like a completely unlikeable and unredeemable. In comics and animation it works, but Robin is a concept that the minute you translate it in a literal way into a live action scenario with gritty textures immediately becomes deeply disturbing.

I'm all for Bruce being a flawed individual, but Robin in this universe if he puts him crime-fighting at 15 would straight up push him to unforgivable levels, not to mention make him seem deeply stupid.

 

[WatchProtect]

How would you guys interpret a young boy fighting crimes in this type of universe?

Like how would it be justified to bring a minor in this battle? Why would Bruce adopt him?

Would love to read your take on it, I just dont know how he can works!

Have him be a child Bruce adopts because of what happens at the circus.

The kid is angry, he lashes out, he hears about Batman On the news beating these criminals and has an epiphany "I can do that too! , I'm quick, Im determined and I have aggression that needs to be sorted out."

Have Bruce or Batman catch him on the street and scold him but make it clear that he is going to do this every night. No matter what so instead of locking him in his room or sending him off somewhere else, Bruce trains him and lets him go out of City sweeps, he doesnt let him fight often but he lets him watch and learn until he knows that he can prove himself.

 

[shauner111]

Yes that’s the way to go but no less than 16.

 

[BarryLyndon]

That it'd make Bruce look like a completely unlikeable and unredeemable. In comics and animation it works, but Robin is a concept that the minute you translate it in a literal way into a live action scenario with gritty textures immediately becomes deeply disturbing.

I'm all for Bruce being a flawed individual, but Robin in this universe if he puts him crime-fighting at 15 would straight up push him to unforgivable levels, not to mention make him seem deeply stupid.

That's exactly my concerns, it can't be justified, no matter how hard you try.

If you want to make this a crime driven movie with psychological depth, I think Robin just is a bit too far fetched.

The only way I see this working is with a one arc type in one film. No adoption, no Father/Son relationship, just Bruce realizing he's inspired a young boy to do the same things as himself but with no money, no real gadgets and a cheap costume. Robin just wants to have revenge on his parents killer and it crosses Batman's path.

Batman could try to stop him from continuing, warns the boy that he's gonna get killed. But Robin is too driven by his anger, so he doesn't stop. They could end up fighting bad guys together and Robin could even be helpful to Batman at some point.

But in the end, Robin dies by the hand of the main bad guy (Maybe Joker, like the comics). Batman is devastated cause he failed to save the young boy, making him much more of a loner for the next film in which he looks for redemption.

 

[Invader Joker]

That's exactly my concerns, it can't be justified, no matter how hard you try.

If you want to make this a crime driven movie with psychological depth, I think Robin just is a bit too far fetched.

The only way I see this working is with a one arc type in one film. No adoption, no Father/Son relationship, just Bruce realizing he's inspired a young boy to do the same things as himself but with no money, no real gadgets and a cheap costume. Robin just wants to have revenge on his parents killer and it crosses Batman's path.

Batman could try to stop him from continuing, warns the boy that he's gonna get killed. But Robin is too driven by his anger, so he doesn't stop. They could end up fighting bad guys together and Robin could even be helpful to Batman at some point.

But in the end, Robin dies by the hand of the main bad guy (Maybe Joker, like the comics). Batman is devastated cause he failed to save the young boy, making him much more of a loner for the next film in which he looks for redemption.

The way I'd go about it is have Bruce adopt Dick at 14, trains him for 4 years, and doesn't become Robin till he's 18, but I think that's really tricky to execute in a trilogy.

 

[Airwings]

People write about the age factor. I agree that it's important. It can never be stretched too much in either direction. Dick Grayson shouldn't be 12 when he becomes Robin, but the same goes for the age of 25. It's silly to see someone trying to be the "Boy Wonder" when he's right in the middle between 20 and 30.

Different actors age in their own unique way. Some will remain youthful for years, others will quickly start to look older.
We have to rethink the whole thing. There ARE others out there than Levi Miller and Noah Jupe.
Let's look at some child/teen actors that came during the last decade. I tried to find a variety and their birth year.
Some has the classic look, some don't.

Bryce Gheisar (b. 2004)


Kyle Catlett (2002)
It seems that there aren't any recent pics. This must be sometime in 2015-17


Judah Lewis (2001)


Sunny Suljic (2005)


Jackson A Dunn (2003)


Ed Oxenbould (2001)

 

[Art Vandelay]

I was thinking it would probably some child star, like one of the Stranger Things kids.

Noah Schnapp, maybe? He's 16.

 

[BobJM]

Not a bad choice, but I’d prefer Hollywood’s other 16-year-old Noah, Noah Jupe for the role. He’s worked a lot with WB already.

 

[Art Vandelay]

This thread is starting to look like a Tiger Beat magazine.

 

[Airwings]

I was thinking it would probably some child star, like one of the Stranger Things kids.

Noah Schnapp, maybe? He's 16.

Not a bad choice, but I’d prefer Hollywood’s other 16-year-old Noah, Noah Jupe for the role. He’s worked a lot with WB already.

Both Noahs are now "official" candidates here at SHH
They will be great.
I think Bryce Gheisar could be up there with them. He's starred opposite Jupe & Tremblay, and worked with Clint Eastwood too.
Not bad!

But it's not enough. We must look at other choices. Nobody will know what going through the minds of Warner Brothers and what they will do regarding Robin.

Should there be an age limit in either direction for casting Robin? For example, one can't be younger than 16 or older than 20 when trying out for the role?.
Or... will it depend on the actor himself? Everyone is different.
18-year-old Guy A can look the same age as Guy B who's 21 and isn't one of those that could pass for a 25-30 year old guy (or trying to).
In that case, B should have been hand-picked for Robin at 17. If Warner Bros were smart, they could have hired writers to come up with a story that included the character, and this AFTER the actor was cast. Because they knew they had gotten their Robin.
Plenty of guys, that would have been gold for the young sidekick, have come and gone since he was last used in a film back in 1997. Which Warner didn't understand or cared about.

I can give you some more that might be considered by the studio.
There is a possibility that an out-of-the-box actor lands the role.

CJ Adams hasn't quit acting. But he's already 21 which is old. Getting him would push it far in terms of acceptable age.



Graham Verchere (b. 2002)
From Summer of 84 and CW's Supergirl


Emjay Anthony (b. 2003)


Harvey Scrimshaw (b. 2001)
Made his acting debut in THE VVITCH

 

[Airwings]

Why should it only be about Noah Jupe, Jaeden Martell and other dark brown-haired teens?
Just for information, I want them for Robin too.

Doesn’t matter that some actors seem to be right for the role in looks and age. There are more talents out there than just them.

Warner Brothers work in mysterious ways.
Maybe we need to prepare for a really unexpected actor.
Suddenly, someone will be cast. It could be the most unlikely one of them all.
It will make a lot of people question the studio’s choice. Others will be supportive and like it a lot.

I can mention the Oakes Fegley (b 2004). He’s not only an up-and-raising actor, he’s good too.
Should we be open to the fact that he MIGHT be a really good candidate? Does he deserve to be considered?
Forget how he looks!

I have looked for other possible ones and found two more.
Embry Johnson, who stared in Prodigy (2018)
Tom Sweet (Childhood of a leader)

Are these really weird suggestions?
Warner Brother may not think that.
Sweet (born 2005) has acted opposite Pattinson…. Is there a hint there?
The kid did a good performance, so why should he not be thought of when it comes to portraying the new Dick Grayson? Just because he doesn’t look like him???

 

[Airwings]

How will Warner Brothers proceed when it comes to finding an actor for Dick Grayson? What will they look for in the actor?
Are all their casting choices genius or do they fail sometimes? I just got to think of the latest Lex Luthor.

How much did Ben Affleck's take on Daredevil factor in, when he was cast as Batman?

Do you think the studio will consider Jace Norman? For years, he's been playing the kid sidekick in a Nickelodeon superhero show. There are similarities to Dynamic Duo, but it's much more hysterical. Which is typical for Nickelodeon (and Disney Channel).
Is there a chance that Warner Bros somehow see the young guy's ability to be less hysterical onscreen and do more "real acting"?

Maybe they will go for an actor with a slightly darker skin tone?
Last year, Reece Yates was in a family friendly take on the Peter Pan story (Come Away).
He was believable when acting playful in that one. Not that it really matters, but still.
Is he a possibility for Robin?
Casting Reece would mean they're going with a lesser known name and also a non-white. At the same time.
Two birds with one stone there.

We shouldn't rule out Jude Collie either.
Who?
He's young John Connor's "body likeness" in the opening of Terminator Dark Fate!
What are his chances to land the role as Batman's sidekick?
It's Warner Bros we're talking about here. Who's to say if the studio see true Robin qualities or not in this Jude guy?
With him, the studio (along with Reeves) could mould the actor into becoming the kind of Grayson/Robin they want. Because he's pretty much a blank slate. The teen had hardly done any acting at all. But out of the blue, he was chosen to be in a blockbuster film
He would be one of those "unknown actors" that some people seem to prefer. Jude brings a whole new meaning to that. He's totally unknown. The most unknown of all unknown actors.
As I said, we shouldn't rule him out. This is Warner Bros!
If Jude Collie gets cast, which isn't really impossible, I was the first and only one to suggest the actor.
He's completely under the radar in Hollywood. NOBODY will ever mention him as a candidate, not here at SHH or anywhere else. But Warner Bros might consider him.