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 latest being that it’ll be darker—due to course it’ll be, and possibly likened to Empire Strikes Again sooner or later—and can function Robin, Batman’s sidekick.

If true, it will make for the third Bat-project to hit the silver display screen with the Boy Marvel in tow. Additionally on deck are the animated stop-motion film Dynamic Duo, which’ll deal with the primary two Robins, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd; and Brave and the Bold, which can herald Batman’s organic son Damian Wayne and certain function different Batfamily members as effectively.

Definitely a far cry from how issues was: after Batman & Robin, Batman’s youthful half hasn’t been seen in live-action motion pictures. 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 motion pictures 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 reveals 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 motion pictures, 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 Sequence 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 Underneath the Crimson Hood movie to his identify, 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 acquired three Robin-starring initiatives hitting the massive display screen? You possibly can put loads of it on time: eventually, WB was going to need to commit as to if Batman was a solo act or had a complete 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 deal with the second query from each ends: Reeves’ model can present Bruce steadily getting a deal with on himself to lift a singular younger particular person to assist him combat crime, and Muschietti’s can present he’s come far sufficient to have a complete household that will comply with him to hell and again. Whether or not these two cinematic variations hyperlink up, this twin strategy 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 will every pull their weight.

Talking of pulling weight, there’s been loads of Batman-adjacent media up to now few years. Villains like Joker and Harley Quinn (each individually and as a double act) have gotten their very own solo initiatives, ditto the Penguin and finally 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 initiatives, 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—doubtless helped by there being practically 10 individuals related to that identify and a small roadmap to work with.

Every Robin incarnation reveals how versatile and important the mantle is, and it’s doubtless why WB is getting 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 into family names and a success 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 way in which it was for Kamala Khan or Peter Parker. After spending many years avoiding Robin, there’s no selection 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 approach 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 huge roster. WB’s largest drawback is usually itself, notably because it pertains to superheroes, and particularly relating to Batman. However as a lot of a missed alternative it’s been to go so lengthy and not using a core a part of the character’s historical past on the massive display screen, whichever of those Robin-led initiatives hits first will really feel like a correct occasion. This new period of DC motion pictures is a mixture of initiatives 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 count on the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the whole lot it’s essential learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.