DC has made a triumphant return to the entertainment industry with the release of films and television shows including “The Batman,” “The Suicide Squad,” “Peacemaker,” “Joker,” and the entirety of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Over the past few years, critical acclaim has poured in for their work, and audiences have been waiting in bated breath for the next installments of their shows and movies featuring their favorite superheroes. However, DC has not truly explored their pool of characters beyond Pacemaker for the film or television releases. Movies based on iconic heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are getting made.
Nothing wrong with that, but DC has obviously settled into a rhythm that works for them, so changing things up just yet might not be the best idea. Keeping that in mind, DC could still create material starring some of their most popular characters, like Robin, who haven’t gotten much attention in the movies. In the movies, the Boy Wonder has not been fully utilized. DC should pay tribute to the figure with a film in the vein of Marvel’s Into the Spider-Verse because the character is so well-known and has inspired so many varied interpretations. The animated film, which was produced like a cinematic comic book, combined several iterations of Spider-Man into a single narrative. This is why DC Comics has to adapt Robin in the same way.
The Many Versions of Robin
There have been many iterations of Robin throughout the years, much like there have been many iterations of Spider-Man; each has had their own unique origin story, character arc, and done justice to the role of the Boy (and sometimes Girl) Wonder. Dick Grayson, the original Robin, went on to become Nightwing, another well-known superhero who fought crime. Second, Jason Todd, who the Joker murdered before resurrecting as the Red Hood.
There is a long list of people who have adopted the name Robin, including Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Damian Wayne, and Carrie Kelley. It makes sense to combine all of these unique character designs into a single work. Indeed, DC is now producing a computer game dubbed Gotham Knights, which is based on the same premise (Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Batgirl taking on crime in Gotham City after Batman dies). What works in a video game is probably adaptable on the big screen.
Batman Could Be A Villain
Even while Batman dies at the end of the Gotham Knights game, that doesn’t mean he has to in a film focusing on Robin’s many incarnations. This is one of the rare ideas where Batman could successfully play the evil role. It’s common knowledge that Batman fights for right, although in a sinister way. Because his feelings of rage and resentment can occasionally propel his actions, he has always been considered a little bit unstable (even if he refuses to kill).
However, if Batman were to be changed from hero to villain for a film, and then have to face up against all of his former disciples at once, it might be quite an emotional ride for viewers. After all, audiences have seen Batman’s villainous side before (in The Batman Who Laughs), and the story could easily be adapted for a Robin movie. It would also be a chance to incorporate the most famous DC character while giving him a break from the spotlight.
DC’s Animated Success
Even if all the Robins could get together for a movie, there’s no reason for it to be animated. Despite DC’s live-action hiccups, the studio’s animation has always been praised as among the best in the industry. Batman: The Killing Joke, Superman: Doomsday, and Justice League Dark are just a few of the many DC animated universe ventures that have received high marks from viewers. So, it makes perfect sense for DC to continue their animated success by creating a movie in the same style that Into the Spider-Verse did.
Besides receiving universal acclaim for its animation, Spider-Verse has also become widely regarded as one of the best-animated films of all time (and arguably the greatest Spider-Man movie ever). With how much fans appreciated the animation style, paired with how well DC executes animated projects, it’s the logical move for DC to follow in Marvel’s footsteps and try to develop their own version — and Robin is the perfect character to do it with.
