With the release of Robin 80th Anniversary Super Spectacular #1, DC is celebrating eight decades of the Boy Wonder. The anniversary special features stories from an all-star cast of writers and artists that highlight all of the characters that have worn the red and yellow costume of Robin to fight crime alongside Batman. The issue is a celebration of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne, being a reminder of just how crucial Robin is to the Batman mythos. Sure, the Dark Knight is important all on his own, but DC fans know that Robin is a quintessential presence in the Batcave.
This celebration of all-things Robin shows the vast legacy of Batman’s most prominent sidekick. And yet, when fans turn their attention to the big screen, one can’t help but notice there is nary a Robin to be seen. But now, Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson are hard at work on The Batman, the upcoming DC film that will give us a new take on the Caped Crusader. With this film currently in production, now is the perfect time to give fans a proper Batman and Robin team-up on the big screen.
When it comes to the movies, fans have yet to see Batman and Robin’s partnership properly on display (and no, Joel Schumacher’s films don’t count, sorry). Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy was a brilliant portrayal of the titular character, but it examined his entire superhero career from origin to retirement without ever involving Robin. Sure, John “Robin” Blake appeared in the third installment, but he never put on a costume to fight crime side-by-side with Batman.
As for the DC Extended Universe, it did get us a bit closer -- but not by a lot. In Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, a deceased Robin’s armor was on display in the Batcave, appearing both as a remnant and a reminder. This gave fans a taste of the importance of the relationship between the two crimefighters, but it was used to show Bruce’s further descent into loss and anger. And despite the presence of the armor and the character’s death at the hands of Joker and Harley Quinn, there were no flashbacks to show us a proper, modern adaptation of Batman and Robin in live-action.
This brings us, finally, to The Batman. While there is much yet we don’t know about the upcoming film, it’s been revealed it will take place roughly around Bruce Wayne’s second year as a vigilante. He will be more inexperienced and rougher around the edges, but it also won’t be a straight-up origin film. Therefore, this is the perfect time and place to bring in Robin. Fans know that Bruce first recruited a young Dick Grayson to his cause a few years after first becoming the Dark Knight, which already makes the timeline of The Batman a perfect starting point. While we don’t necessarily expect the film to be a Batman and Robin film, it could easily lay the groundwork and possibly even end with the duo meeting for the first time.
With Reeves at the helm and Pattinson in the lead role, fans are sure to get a dark and complex take on Bruce Wayne. Such a portrayal would, therefore, be the perfect opportunity to introduce Robin, who was initially brought in to rein Batman in -- to prevent him from ever crossing the line. A powerful character realization and evolution would surely make for a fascinating story to see unfold on the big screen. And it could all lead to a proper, modern iteration of Batman and Robin in DC’s film universe -- something that fans still have yet to see.
Directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, The Batman stars Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Jayme Lawson, and Peter Sarsgaard. The film is currently scheduled for a June 25, 2021 release.