Dick Grayson Casting Thread

[BMW 224]

No matter how you try to spin it though, the idea of Bruce taking in a minor and recruiting him for his insane one-man war on crime just edges on a bit uncomfortable for some people, especially when put into live action. I think Batman Forever honestly did it pretty well, I was fine with aging Grayson up a bit. And I didn't need to see another third Batman film that repeated that arc.

Blake worked because he wasn't literally supposed to be Robin, or any sort of adaptation of any of the individual Robins. The name is just there as a nod, a tribute to the idea Robin represents at his core- the protege, the successor, the young idealist who might someday become an even better hero than Batman. I understand it's not for everyone though and if you're a hardcore Robin fan you might take issue with it. I get it.

Personally though, I think we have to admit that the tone IS inherently different when Robin is involved. It's inherently more playful and colorful, whether you want to call that "camp" or not. That's why even BTAS had plenty of episodes without Robin even when he was introduced. Sometimes you just want a good solo Batman story.

I think it's actually pretty easy to get around the uncomfortable part by changing the order of event's.

Dick Grayson is already Robin or at least viganlte by himself doing his thing.

Bruce Wayne does adopt him after he sees this kid risking his life and putting himself out there to bring hope and fix this city like him.

He wants to know the kid behind the mask and hopefully stop him from getting Killed.

That way Batman isn't some physcpathic transforming some inoccent kid into a child soldier or his sidekick and sending him after the most dangerous criminals in the city.

He's making the best of a reckless and dangerous situation.

This stuff would need to be in a first film of a triolgy though so it's not happening in Reeves universe which is fine by me.

Let Matt Reeves tell the story he wants to tell.

 

[BatLobster]

We never really saw this Bruce arc (in Forever just a little bit and in Rises not at all), but since The Batman seems to be a movie about an angry never grown child who has idealized his dead parents and needs to grow up and find his own path, I think that Robin could a keystone to his arc in the second and third movie making him a man and a father.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against Reeves doing Robin in his films if that's a story he wants to tell. I think he could adapt it to make it work.

On the other hand, I think there's an argument for letting him do a trilogy to explore Batman as thoroughly as he'd like. Maybe end the third film with Bruce adopting Grayson and leaving the door open for a future trilogy to explore the Robin arc with a more firmly established Batman. Personally I always thought a Batman movie told more from Robin's perspective would be interesting.

I'm not anti-Robin, but I also think we just need to acknowledge that there are solo Batman stories and there are Batman/Robin stories, and not every single Batman story needs or works as well with Robin in there.

First af all, I didn't like Blake's character, regardless of the fact he was a Robin-figure or not.

But beyond this, the point is that Robin is not a "successor": he is not Terry McGinnes.
As you said he is the protege and an another hero who could become even better than Batman.

He is a boy who grows up under Batman's wing (literally... LOL) and that, one day, will decide to emancipate himself from him. But the point is that he represents the legacy of Bruce, someone educated from him but that grows up as something different from him, exactly what "being a son" means.

So the tribute to Robin wasn't just silly, was quite without a sense. It shows how Nolan understands only partially Batman's character.

That's fine that you didn't like Blake, not trying to change your mind on that, but I have to push back a bit on a few things here.

- What Robin has represented in the comics has evolved a lot over time. I mean if you really just look to the core conception of the character....he was a stand-in for the reader. Comics were primarily intended as children's entertainment, and Robin was put in there as a young character who readers could latch onto and relate to. And to make it more bright and fun. The father/son dynamic was sorta there (although there were/are a lot of homosexual undertones to it as well, but I won't even open that can of worms...), but it wasn't about giving Bruce some grand fatherhood arc. That all came much later.

-So when you think of the "audience surrogate" origins of the character, that's why the Blake thing works for me. Because he is essentially a fan insert. He's the youth element, the character who is literally a Batman "fan" who looks up to Bruce. That's where the connection of the nod works for me. On top of that, the character does cleverly mix some elements of Dick Grayson (Dick has been a cop in the comics), Tim Drake (him deducing Bruce's identity, the name rhymes, etc.). I think it's simultaneously a unique original character and an acknowledgement of Robin's important history in the comics. I'm not going to hold it against Nolan that he didn't want to devote the screen time needed to do a full Robin arc in his movies. It would've entirely changed the entire trajectory of the trilogy and made it something different. And for the same reason I'm not going to hold it against Reeves either if he wants to focus on other things. I mean, the Bruce/Selina relationship alone could be the focus of this trilogy, for instance. It's a vast mythology and there's only so much you can do in 2 and a half hours each time.

-The idea of Grayson being a successor to the cowl did become prevalent in the comics due to Morrison's run. So the idea of a "Robin" taking the mantle of Batman was actually very timely with what the comics of the time were doing near the time of TDKR's release. So the thing is, there is no definitive successor IMO. Is it Terry? Dick? Looks like it's going to be Batgirl in Keaton's universe. Just depends which story you want to look at. I have a friend who is a diehard Dick Grayson/Robin fan. Ask him. He hates Terry McGinnis, cause he feels his mere existence is encroaching on Dick's territory.

 

[Airwings]

@Luke995
@Mindreaper21
@BMW 224
@BatLobster

It's so great to see you discuss the matter. You give good opinions (even the ones I don't agree with, lol)
Don't forget this is a casting thread though. I would be happy if you could include 1-2 names that you think would fit the Reeves films.

 

[Airwings]

I suppose my hope would be similar. Intro Dick in 3 with whatever villain they want to tie to Robin's origin. And then do a Batman and Robin arc (say 2 or 3 movies) that ends with him going solo and eventually a Nightwing movie *cough* trilogy *cough*.

It's nice to have a vision like this. However, the Grayson actor have to be really young at our point in time.
Let's say there is 3 years between the films. There won't be a Robin before 2028, the last in the trilogy.

And then you suggest a B&R trilogy after that. Which in turn could be followed by a Nightwing film.

The guy who will be cast as Robin, he has to be born in 2010-11 or later in order to make this vision work.
Azhy Robertson fits that requirement. But we're not even sure how he will age over the years, and what he will be like as a teenager.

 

[Invader Joker]

This scooper has a proven track record so if this is true I think it's pretty much guaranteed Reeves has zero plans whatsoever for Dick Grayson and Barbara in this universe.

 

[shauner111]

This scooper has a proven track record so if this is true I think it's pretty much guaranteed Reeves has zero plans whatsoever for Dick Grayson and Barbara in this universe.

Thinking the same thing. At least Grayson fans will get their fix.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

That’s a bummer if yet another Batman director has no plans for Dick/Robin.

but I love Dylan O’Brien as a choice and a Nightwing movie in any capacity is a dream come true for me, so I can’t be bummed out.

 

[BMW 224]

This scooper has a proven track record so if this is true I think it's pretty much guaranteed Reeves has zero plans whatsoever for Dick Grayson and Barbara in this universe.

This actually makes me even more excited for what Matt Reeves has planned for his Batman arc.

Adopting a kid and becoming a more mature less rage induced Batman would have been cool but it was kinda already predicted anyways.

Now we're back to square one.

 

[BMW 224]

That’s a bummer if yet another Batman director has no plans for Dick/Robin.

but I love Dylan O’Brien as a choice and a Nightwing movie in any capacity is a dream come true for me, so I can’t be bummed out.

I still think Matt Reeves at some point considered it but realized it would take away focus from Pattinson Batman.

It's better to not crowd this series with to many supporting characters for Battinsons sake.

It wouldn't he fair to Robert Pattinson either.

He was born for this role and deserves the same opportunity Bale got.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

My favorite kind of Batman is the one that has Grayson and Babs to fall back on, people he can relate to as they’re all in the trenches of Gotham fighting every night. So I’m not gonna lie and say I’d prefer another Batman who works alone, because we’ve gotten that for just about the last 25 years worth of movies.

but this does sound like a pretty ideal compromise for everyone. And it’ll be cool to see Keaton interact with his own Dick Grayson, so there’s that too.

 

[shauner111]

Doesn’t mean Reeves won’t bring in a teenage Dick Grayson for the third film and do his origin story but keep it to Bruce’s perspective. Like a tool for Bruce’s arc. And then they strongly hint at him becoming Robin as the trilogy comes to a close.

I’m open to something like that while HBO delivers on a 20 something Nightwing. You won’t actually see DCEU Grayson’s Robin days with Keaton, so this way there’s no overlapping if Reeves wants to tell that story.

But I have to admit that I’m kinda relieved too. Another solo Batman trilogy is right up my alley.

 

[Mani-Man]

This scooper has a proven track record so if this is true I think it's pretty much guaranteed Reeves has zero plans whatsoever for Dick Grayson and Barbara in this universe.

Funny how none of these scoopers had any Robin leak before, but suddenly they have the scoop on the casting etc.

Anyway...Its all wait and see for me, even with Reeves.
It all comes down to how The Batman turns out.
Maybe that is a world where a Robin doesnt fit into, so i would be fine there with no Robin.
Maybe in Batgirl the Robin wont work etc...i dont really can build an opinion on the Robin topic unless i see more of this all.

 

[The Lazarus Pit]

Some kind of variation on this would be such a cool ending for the second or third movie.

This scene was close, but I need to see Dick Grayson/Robin.

 

[BatLobster]

View attachment 52387 Some kind of variation on this would be such a cool ending for the second or third movie.
View attachment 52388

That's a bit twisted and creepy and not in a good way IMHO. The idea of Bruce Wayne making a child swear an oath or something....oof. It's just not something that resonates with me on any level.

Give me the good ol' Batman Forever handshake any day of the week...

 

[Luke995]

On the other hand, I think there's an argument for letting him do a trilogy to explore Batman as thoroughly as he'd like. Maybe end the third film with Bruce adopting Grayson and leaving the door open for a future trilogy to explore the Robin arc with a more firmly established Batman. Personally I always thought a Batman movie told more from Robin's perspective would be interesting.

Sorry I didn't answer earlier.

I understand your point and thank you for your argumentations on Grayson's comic history, very interesting
I haven't your comic knowledges and you quite convinced me on Robin/Blake haha

Anyway, what you say in this quote would be awsome, my ideas was considering the case that Pattinson would do only three movies, but... who knows?

Now Holland's Spiderman is doing two trilogy and in this time where universes are build in 10-15 years with dozens of movie, it wouldn't be crazy if Reeves will have the chance to Batman trilogies with different focus.

I just hope there won't be troubles on the way (first of all with The Batman's box office) and WB will understand that a Bat-universe is much more convenient to them than a DC universe...

Anyway, considering that Reeves has been maybe (...) able to convince WB to use his own Joker while Phillip's movie broke the box office and Phoenix won an Oscar, I think he doesn't give a damn if WB is putting a Nightwing in DCEU, frankly...

 

[shauner111]

That's a bit twisted and creepy and not in a good way IMHO. The idea of Bruce Wayne making a child swear an oath or something....oof. It's just not something that resonates with me on any level.

Give me the good ol' Batman Forever handshake any day of the week...

I second this. I don't have much interest in seeing that on screen. Even though, I'm a dark/twisted way it does kinda make me giggle thinking of Keaton doing something like that in his 50's with a young Robin. Just because Keaton is so on edge and doesn't really give a **** about many people lol. I can totally see him acting like that. But it's not something I can see with Bale or Pattinson. Not even Affleck.

 

[SquirrelBallZ]

I think too Batman Forever used Robin pretty well and, of course, Robin as a minor doesn't work very well in live action.
But who said Dick has to become immediately Robin?

If you introduce in the second movie as a 15 years old orphan who Bruce adopts and then you jump to his 18 or 20 in the third movie and show him as Robin after years of training by Bruce, I think it would perfectly work.

We never really saw this Bruce arc (in Forever just a little bit and in Rises not at all), but since The Batman seems to be a movie about an angry never grown child who has idealized his dead parents and needs to grow up and find his own path, I think that Robin could a keystone to his arc in the second and third movie making him a man and a father.



First af all, I didn't like Blake's character, regardless of the fact he was a Robin-figure or not.

But beyond this, the point is that Robin is not a "successor": he is not Terry McGinnes.
As you said he is the protege and an another hero who could become even better than Batman.

He is a boy who grows up under Batman's wing (literally... LOL) and that, one day, will decide to emancipate himself from him. But the point is that he represents the legacy of Bruce, someone educated from him but that grows up as something different from him, exactly what "being a son" means.

So the tribute to Robin wasn't just silly, was quite without a sense. It shows how Nolan understands only partially Batman's character.



Well, considering that Reeves was able to went from this

View attachment 52292

to this

View attachment 52293

without - since all we know so far from trailers, interview and leaked spoiler - betray the core of the character, I think is a good proof of what a good connoisseur of Batman's mythology like Reeves can do even with the (appareantly) most ridicolous things of that history...

I think that he could introduce Robin making him amazing... And I think he will.

Let's see!

This is obviously an amalgamation between Hush and the Riddler, really curious and excited to see where they’re going with the is and why.

 

[CaptainWagner]

I still think Matt Reeves at some point considered it but realized it would take away focus from Pattinson Batman.

It's better to not crowd this series with to many supporting characters for Battinsons sake.

It wouldn't he fair to Robert Pattinson either.

He was born for this role and deserves the same opportunity Bale got.

The Bat Family is a huge part of the mythos, though. Are we going to say this for every talented actor to get cast as Bruce, that they should be the sole focus and not have to share the story with other protagonists? We've seen a solo Batman in 7 out of 9 movies. It's time to fully realize his scope, IMO.

Just look at LEGO Batman. A ridiculous movie, but one that works so very well because it cuts to the heart of who Bruce/Batman is. He starts as a depressed, brooding loner, but the new family he makes along the way saves him from a life forever alone and makes him a better man.

 

[Invader Joker]

The Bat Family is a huge part of the mythos, though. Are we going to say this for every talented actor to get cast as Bruce, that they should be the sole focus and not have to share the story with other protagonists? We've seen a solo Batman in 7 out of 9 movies. It's time to fully realize his scope, IMO.

Just look at LEGO Batman. A ridiculous movie, but one that works so very well because it cuts to the heart of who Bruce/Batman is. He starts as a depressed, brooding loner, but the new family he makes along the way saves him from a life forever alone and makes him a better man.

That's why you're gonna get a Bat-Family with Keaton's Batman in the DCEU.

 

[Invader Joker]

‘The Batman’: Robert Pattinson on His Love of ‘Death in the Family’ and Why He’d Like to Use the Story In a Sequel

This has let us know several things:
1. Both Reeves and Robert have some interest in doing Robin.
2. If/when they do Robin it'll be a grounded version of the character.
3. Robert wants Robin to be 13, Reeves doesn't seem that keen in that idea.
4. They both mentioned Death in the Family in relation to Robin, so if they do Robin it'll either be Jason Todd or they'll kill Dick Grayson off.

"Yeah, but he has to be 13," the star said in response to the idea of Robin joinign the fray. "That's the only way I'll accept it. No, I love Death in the Family and stuff, but I think it'd be so cool. Also people are so scared of it, but it's kind of exciting. I think it would be a really fun addition."

He's referring, of course, to the infamous 1988 comic book storyline which saw then Robin, Jason Todd, the second character to take up the persona, murdered at the hands of The Joker. At first, Matt Reeves joked that they wouldn't add a Robin to the franchise, before conceding that he agreed with Pattinson.

Reeves notes that he too, like Pattinson, "likes Death in the Family," further expanding that he follows the idea of "approaching some of those stories, and [thinking], how can we do this in a way that feels fresh and grounded in a way... look at that scary thing and see if there's a way to do it". The question, he says, is whether they'll be too scared. He concludes: "But I think we should try."

Also I have to add how cruel it is for Rob to mention, right after saying he wants a 13 year old Robin, he wants to the story where he gets killed but it's on brand for him lmao

 

[Airwings]

I think 13 is way too young for a Robin in that kind of dark universe.

But I have found some young actors, born between 2005 and 2009
Ezra Dewey (The Boy Behind the Door)
Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth)
Jack Veal (kid Loki)
Mason Thames (The Black Phone)

 

[codesveburn]

I pick Woody Norman (C'mon C'mon). He's really good and his father-son dynamic with Joaquin is awesome, he's exactly 13 y.o now (so if they really want to cast Robin, he will be older). But im not exactly sure they will include Robin especially at that young age, but almost-adult looking Robin doesnt interest me as well.

 

[Brotherhood]

I just personally can't see it working yet. Obviously I need to see the film, but I think Bruce is too young at the moment. I think I'd rather them do the trilogy, focus on Bruce/Batman and his villains, tell that story, and then bring in Robin for a new set of stories. I think we need time with this Bruce first.

 

[Airwings]

I pick Woody Norman (C'mon C'mon). He's really good and his father-son dynamic with Joaquin is awesome, he's exactly 13 y.o now (so if they really want to cast Robin, he will be older). But im not exactly sure they will include Robin especially at that young age, but almost-adult looking Robin doesnt interest me as well.

Good suggestion. I will see the film when it opens here.
Maybe Daniel Ranieri (Tender Bar) could work too. I've heard he had good chemistry with Affleck but I haven't seen the film yet.

I agree with you that Grayson should not look too much of an adult.
But 13 is still extremely young.
Perhaps they should cast a 15 year old but the character is 13. It wouldn't be too unbelievable.

I just personally can't see it working yet. Obviously I need to see the film, but I think Bruce is too young at the moment. I think I'd rather them do the trilogy, focus on Bruce/Batman and his villains, tell that story, and then bring in Robin for a new set of stories. I think we need time with this Bruce first.

Just like in the Nolan films, then.

Ok, let's say they skip Robin this time too. What will happen then?
Pattinson will eventually be replaced. Somewhere around 2030 or so. Warner Bros will reboot the character and get a new actor. It's very likely going to be a third take on the gritty and/or grounded Batman (because it works so well for the character).
It's going to be differences (but still a couple of similarities) to the previous so-called "realistic" Batmen Bale and Pattinson*.
Perhaps they'll go full horror by then, to let the version have its own unique style and set it apart from what came before. Just a thought.
Then it's going to be the same thing all over again. "No, Robin won't work in this universe. It's too dark. Keep the focus on Bruce and do a trilogy where they flesh out the dark knight's personal journey and struggles. Batman should be the priority. The boy wonder can be introduced AFTER that, after the trilogy".
And then we're in the 2040s. LOL.
There will always be an excuse to not have Grayson. That's going to happen for every new Batman actor.
People either overlook or don't care that Titans made Robin suit a dark world.

*Affleck was also a dark take on the character, but his world had fantastical elements. And a dead Robin which we never saw. It was done intentionally because not even that version would have worked with the sidekick. Just look at the violent warehouse fight. The circus kid would have been crushed in seconds. Only the supernatural stuff (aliens, greek gods, DC superheroes) makes it stick out. Other than that, it's a gritty Batman.
The Robin costume on display was mostly fan-service.

 

[Boom]

If they bring Robin into the fold he can't be younger than 16. Just the way Reeves has shaped his world, I can't conceive of a child running around in this.