The news last week that Warner Bros. is developing a Nightwing film came as a surprise even to longtime fans of Dick Grayson. But while they undoubtedly delight in the possibility of the DC Comics vigilante's big-screen adventures, others may not see what differentiates the former Robin from the Dark Knight. That's where Chris McKay comes in.

The director of the hit "LEGO Batman Movie," who's in talks to helm the live-action "Nightwing," appeared recently on the Shanlian on Batman podcast, where he broke down what makes Dick Grayson so appealing.

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“Bruce Wayne, in my mind, came from privilege and I think that’s why he’s more dour and angry," he said. "He’s self-made as far as his becoming all of these cool things we like him for. … Dick Grayson didn’t come from that. Dick Grayson came from a circus family. Essentially people who aren’t rich and they are self-made. They’re entertainers. They’re gymnasts. They’re people who live hand-to-mouth and that’s something that informs him and his attitude … he’s a fascinating guy to me, because he had all the same things happen to him. He’s got some of the same negatives as Bruce Wayne and then from a society standpoint — obviously he was adopted into Bruce Wayne’s life … but he didn’t start that way. He’s this guy who has all these negatives and then even more negatives and yet he remains … Those are things why I like Dick Grayson, why I like the idea of Nightwing as a movie.”

A veteran of Adult Swim’s “Robot Chicken” and “Moral Orel,” McKay made his feature directorial debut with “The LEGO Batman Movie,” which has grossed more than $190 million worldwide since its release on Feb. 10.

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Dick Grayson was introduced as Robin in 1940, and adopted the identity of Nightwing about 44 years later as he sought to establish himself as a hero out from under Batman's shadow. A longtime fixture of DC comic books, Grayson's Nightwing persona has appeared in animation and video games but not yet in live-action (unless, of course, you want to count fan films).

Written by Bill Dubuque (“The Accountant”), "Nightwing" would join an expanding DC Films slate that in recent months has added such live-action features as the “Suicide Squad” sequel and its spinoff “Gotham City Sirens,” “Justice League Dark” and “The Batman.”

No official announcement has been made about production of "Nightwing" or a targeted release date.

(via Screen Rant)