The Dark Knight is one of the most enduring figures in modern cinema. However, for all the reboots and reinventions, there’s one shadow that’s loomed large over Batman’s live-action history: the near-total absence of Robin. Now, new comments from DC Studios co-head James Gunn have fans wondering if the trend is about to continue.
The upcoming ‘The Brave and the Bold’, which marks the first Batman movie in the new DCU, was long believed to center on the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne, the fourth Robin in comic canon. However, according to Gunn’s recent remarks, that idea may no longer be the plan.
James Gunn’s Comments Tease Major Storyline Shifts
When asked directly about ‘The Brave and the Bold’ and whether it would focus on Batman’s relationship with Damian, James Gunn offered an unexpectedly cryptic response. “No, I think you have to wait to see the movie. Some things have changed. Plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff.” He went on to clarify that “many big actors” have expressed interest in playing Batman.
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This might’ve been a subtle indication that the casting process and story direction are still evolving. That uncertainty doesn’t necessarily spell bad news. However, it does hint at a possible shift away from the original father-son dynamic that had fans excited. When pressed further about whether Damian Wayne was still part of the film, Gunn simply replied, “I think you have to wait to see exactly what’s happening.”
This ambiguity has fueled speculation that Damian’s role might have been reduced, or even cut entirely. If true, ‘The Brave and the Bold’ could end up sidelining Robin once again. Moreover, it’s a strange omission, given how crucial Robin is to Batman’s mythos. In the comics, each Robin represents a different stage of Bruce Wayne’s emotional evolution. They humanize the Dark Knight, pushing him to grow beyond vengeance.
Yet in live-action, the Boy Wonder has rarely been given the spotlight. Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy opted for a “symbolic” Robin in Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s John Blake, while ‘The Batman’ skipped the character altogether. Even Zack Snyder’s DCEU only referenced Robin’s death in passing, using his empty costume as a symbol of Bruce’s trauma. So, if Gunn’s new Batman film once again erases Robin’s presence, it would be the continuation of a decades-long cinematic tradition that keeps Batman in permanent isolation.
Robin Could Definitely Be Present In New DCU
Still, not all hope is lost for fans who want to see a Robin in the DCU. Even if ‘The Brave and the Bold’ doesn’t focus on the Dynamic Duo, other clues suggest the larger universe might still make room for the mantle. For one, Gunn’s DCU is structured to be expansive, interconnected, and comic-accurate, much more so than past iterations. With ‘Superman’ establishing that heroes have been operating for years, it makes narrative sense that Batman would already have some history as a mentor or father figure.
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Then there’s ‘Creature Commandos’, which reportedly features references to Doctor Phosphorus, a Batman villain whose inclusion hints that the Dark Knight has been active in this timeline for quite some time. If that’s the case, the DCU’s Batman could already have a Robin. Additionally, reports of a Teen Titans script in development add another layer of intrigue. The team almost always includes a Robin, most commonly Dick Grayson or Tim Drake, as one of its founding members. That alone suggests Gunn and Peter Safran have long-term plans for the character.
