The "bat" is out of the bag, as it appears all but official that Robert Pattinson will don the cape and cowl for writer/director Matt Reeves' The Batman, and at least two additional films.
With the casting uncertainty out of the way, speculation now shifts to the film itself, in terms of story and characters. One report suggested long-rumored rogues such as Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman remain possibilities, alongside such expected supporting players as Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth. However, another name steeped in Dark Knight lore was also added to the mix: Robin the Boy Wonder.
If true, it would mark the first time the Dynamic Duo has appeared in live-action on the big screen since 1997's Batman & Robin, a film so reviled that it brought Warner Bros.' blockbuster franchise to a screeching halt, until it was rebooted in 2005 with Batman Begins. (We're not counting 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Robin John Blake, as his name was merely an homage to the iconic sidekick.)
While the prospect of seeing the legendary team together should excite fans, it's also premature and unlikely. For one, there isn't any confirmation, as Reeves' film hasn't even entered pre-production, and the script is still subject to change. Two, it's more believable that Dick Grayson (if he's the Robin used) could be merely introduced as a minor character without becoming the Boy Wonder, setting up future appearances. And, finally, it's far too early to bring together in this rebooted film series.
From what has been reported, The Batman will be an origin story set early in the vigilante's career, as he comes to terms with the responsibility and challenges of being Gotham's protector. At that point in the Dark Knight's history, accepted canon indicates, he didn't have a place for a sidekick and ward. Moreover, it would simply detract from the purpose of an origin tale, which is to cement the character and his purpose.
However, considering it's (supposedly) a three-picture deal, it's conceivable that Robin will play a pivotal role in later films -- perhaps even as soon as the sequel. After all, one criticism of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy is that it didn't showcase Batman as a mentor to the people he feels will succeed him. In The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce Wayne bails on Gotham to sip espresso with Selina Kyle, and leaves the city in the hands of Blake, who probably doesn't even know how to turn on the Batcomputer.
With his work on the last two Planet of the Apes movies, Reeves demonstrated he's more than capable of handling a story with numerous characters and elements -- and more importantly, the theme of family. He'll know exactly how to introduce additional members of the Bat-Family without disrupting that fictional world. That said, don't expect to see the Dynamic Duo swinging from the rooftops by the end of The Batman.
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It's inevitable that the Boy Wonder will eventually make his return to live-action films, especially because of his resurgence in popularity due to DC Universe's Titans. Before getting ahead of ourselves, though, let's allow The Batman to focus first on the Caped Crusader.
Directed and written by Matt Reeves, The Batman is scheduled for release on June 25, 2021.