As the DC fandom still reels from James Gunn's "Gods and Monsters" announcement, fans of the Bat-Family aren't sure how to feel. They are excited to see Damian Wayne in live action for the first time, but some lament that the first Robin is, again, being skipped over. Yet, maybe Damian will be the DC Universe's Robin because Dick Grayson will be busy in Matt Reeves' The Batman 2.
When the first film in Reeves' series debuted, longtime fans of the Dark Knight joked about how "dark" he is. When Tim Burton's Batman debuted in 1989, the hero was a darker, grittier character than fans knew from the Adam West days. This trend continued with Christopher Nolan's and Zack Snyder's Batmen. Reeves' Caped Crusader is the darkest and grittiest one yet. That is why Gunn's moves make sense. If the DCU's Batman tried to be darker and gritter, he'd be half-shadow and half-sand. And if the Dark Knight can't go darker, it makes sense to bring in the one Robin who is darker than he is. Conversely, the best person to challenge Robert Pattison's darker knight might be the bright, cheerful sidekick who thinks there is nothing more fun than being a superhero. Maybe not as soon as The Batman 2, but it's possible Dick Grayson will suit up in the Batverse.
The Batman 2 Doesn't Need the Whole Family
Deepening darkness is not just something that affects Batman, either. Like West, Burt Ward delivered an iconic performance as Robin. When Chris O'Donnell suited up 30 years later, he was a darker, edgier Boy Wonder. About 20 years later, the third live-action Dick Grayson (in color, at least) debuted on the recently canceled Titans. He was a Robin without a Batman, arguably as dark and gritty as any of the Bruces that followed West.
That is perhaps why Snyder implied Robin died in Batman v. Superman. Robin is too "silly" to be paired with a "serious" Batman, and making him dark or darker doesn't work, either. Robin was created to give kids reading early Batman comics someone to identify with. And that's what The Batman 2 needs desperately. The past half-dozen Batman films are not for kids, at least not primarily. Adding Dick to The Batman 2 is just what that franchise needs.
A kid wearing colors only slightly brighter than his attitude is a perfect foil for the grim, moody Battinson. Perhaps he's even inspired by Batman's rescue of the people of Gotham at the end of the first film. It also would force that version of the character to reconcile the Bruce Wayne and Batman sides of his life. The mythos demands that Bruce help Dick through the grief over the loss of his family. And there's nothing in there that says Dick can't help Bruce, too. In the comics, without Dick Grayson, there is no Bat-Family.
The DCU Needs Damian Wayne - But the Batverse Needs Dick Grayson
In the comics, the way that raising Dick helped Bruce is a huge part of what created the Bat-Family. The movies show that Batman's crusade is a lonely one, and there's not really a place for allies. Even when Robin saves Batman's life, it's not like the Dark Knight needs the help. No, the most important function Dick plays in those stories is softening Batman's heart. In fact, without Dick's influence, Damian or Bruce would've likely ended up dead. Or, worse, Damian's influence might actually corrupt Bruce, making him even "worse."
In The Batman, he especially doesn't care much for individuals, just Gotham. It's not until he almost loses Alfred that he starts to understand the value of others in his life. Adding a kid, who already had the chops to fight crime, is a way to build on that character development in The Batman 2. Bruce learned an important lesson about Batman in the first film, and including Dick as Robin in the sequel will help Batman learn an important lesson about Bruce. Dick's Robin can be driven when dishing out justice, but his attitude has to be founded in joy. Otherwise, he's not Robin -- he's a moody kid Batman hangs out with.
Reeves' The Batman 2 won't hit theaters until 2025, so fans have a long wait ahead to see what direction the story will take. Yet, if the overall arc of these films is to take Batman from a dark shadow of vengeance into the hero fans know from the comics, Robin is a crucial part of that journey.