Robin is Lastly Getting Some Cinematic Love Once more

To the delight of DC followers on-line, The Batman Part II has now entered pre-production forward of its begin date in early 2026. Director Matt Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin have been secretive about what to anticipate from their Bat-sequel, however there’ve been rumors flying for a while now, with the newest being that it’ll be darker—due to course it’ll be, and possibly likened to Empire Strikes Again sooner or later—and can characteristic Robin, Batman’s sidekick.

If true, this may make for the third Bat-project to hit the silver display screen with the Boy Surprise in tow. Additionally on deck are the animated stop-motion film Dynamic Duo, which’ll concentrate on the primary two Robins, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd; and Brave and the Bold, which is able to herald Batman’s organic son Damian Wayne and sure characteristic different Batfamily members as effectively.

Actually a far cry from how issues was: after Batman & Robin, Batman’s youthful half hasn’t been seen in live-action films. Christopher Nolan’s Darkish Knight trilogy didn’t actually have a Robin to talk of—Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s John Blake is a fusion of Dick, Jason, and Jason’s successor Tim Drake, however is in any other case just a few man Bruce determined to christen Gotham’s protector, and Zack Snyder’s films killed a Robin with out actually specifying which. Of all of them, Dick has had essentially the most play in expanded media due to animated exhibits and movies like Lego Batman, Teen Titans (each variations), and Younger Justice, with Damian a possible shut second due to a number of latest animated films, the grownup sequence Harley Quinn, and Injustice 2. Fan-favorite Robin Tim and his successor/eventual girlfriend Stephanie Brown have been supporting gamers in Batman: The Animated Collection or Titans and Younger Justice, however haven’t actually gotten full spotlights to themselves. And on the low finish, Jason actually solely has Titans and the Beneath the Purple Hood movie to his title, whereas Damian’s type of up to date Duke Thomas is Robin within the preschool-focused Batwheels.

What modified DC’s thoughts to the place they’ve bought three Robin-starring tasks hitting the massive display screen? You may put a variety of it on time: in the end, WB was going to need to commit as to whether Batman was a solo act or had an entire entourage, and if that’s the case, how a lot. With Reeves’ Batman and the Courageous model reportedly coming from The Flash director Andy Muschietti, Warner Bros. is making an attempt to sort out the second query from each ends: Reeves’ model can present Bruce step by step getting a deal with on himself to boost a singular younger individual to assist him combat crime, and Muschietti’s can present he’s come far sufficient to have an entire household that may comply with him to hell and again. Whether or not these two cinematic variations hyperlink up, this twin method theoretically hits the candy spot of a mini-cinematic universe the place WB can again out if one doesn’t resonate with audiences, or tout the success of each if they’ll every pull their weight.

Talking of pulling weight, there’s been a variety of Batman-adjacent media prior to now few years. Villains like Joker and Harley Quinn (each individually and as a double act) have gotten their very own solo tasks, ditto the Penguin and ultimately Clayface. The identical goes for his allies; Dick, Jason, and Tim have been all in Titans, whereas Jim Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth have headlined their very own particular person live-action tasks, Gotham and Pennyworth. (Gotham is a slight cheat, since a younger Bruce Wayne is its co-lead and it will definitely turns into a Batman prequel.) Batgirl may’ve been one other addition, however with the film canceled and locked away, WB appears to have felt Robin is a greater candidate—probably helped by there being almost 10 folks related to that title and a small roadmap to work with.

Every Robin incarnation exhibits how versatile and very important the mantle is, and it’s probably why WB is making ready to let a number of variations run round on the massive display screen. The underappreciated Blue Beetle felt just like the studio’s first actual stab at introducing audiences to a younger hero within the vein of Ms. Marvel or Spider-Man, which have since turn out to be family names and successful with youthful viewers. To WB’s credit score, Superman had some younger blood in Supergirl and Hawkgirl, however these two are of their early or mid-20s, and their youth isn’t the promoting level in the best way it was for Kamala Khan or Peter Parker. After spending a long time avoiding Robin, there’s no alternative however to embrace him: no matter who’s carrying the domino masks and inexperienced pants,  a Robin is outlined by how younger they’re. Dynamic Duo, Courageous and the Daring, and the Teen Titans film can hit completely different sects of the youth demographic in the identical manner Batman’s been doing for years.

This all the time may’ve occurred with Robin, simply because it may’ve with Wonder Woman, Inexperienced Lantern, and anybody else in DC’s large roster. WB’s largest drawback is usually itself, significantly because it pertains to superheroes, and particularly in terms of Batman. However as a lot of a missed alternative it’s been to go so lengthy with out a core a part of the character’s historical past on the massive display screen, whichever of those Robin-led tasks hits first will really feel like a correct occasion. This new period of DC films is a mixture of tasks meant to offer audiences what they’ve wanted and a few issues it won’t have recognized it’d prefer to see. Fortunate for them, Robin falls neatly into each classes.

Need extra io9 information? Try when to anticipate the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every thing it is advisable to learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.