The DCU‘s Batman movie is already in a strong position to allow the franchise to break a live-action DC movie record that has lasted over 80 years. While few details about the DCU’s Brave and the Bold story have been provided since the film was announced, many are still expecting it to be part of James Gunn’s universe. After all, Batman is one of the three main heroes in DC Comics alongside Superman and Wonder Woman, meaning the film is expected to be part of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
To further this excitement, the DC Universe’s first Batman appearance came in Creature Commandos. The Caped Crusader appeared in a quick cameo that was careful not to give too much away, but that Gunn has confirmed will be the same character who features in upcoming Batman movies set within the DCU. Based on the tidbits of information that have been revealed about the DCU’s Batman franchise thus far, the series is already building a strong foundation that could see an 82-year-old live-action DC trend broken in a considerably shorter time.
Robin’s Live-Action History Has Been Surprisingly Sparse Despite His Early Debut
Batman’s Sidekick Is Underrepresented In Live-Action
The trend in question pertains to Robin, the most iconic member of the Bat Family and Batman’s trusty sidekick. Specifically, the trend links to how many live-action appearances the various male versions of the character have had since adaptations of DC’s most iconic superheroes began. In over 80 years, Robin has only had around nine appearances in live-action DC projects. The first two of these nine came in the 1943 and 1949 Batman TV serials, played by Douglas Croft and Johnny Duncan respectively.
Then came two more appearances in 1966, where Robin was portrayed by Burt Ward in the TV show Batman and the movie of the same name. Chris O’Donnell marked the fifth and sixth live-action Robin appearances in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin before Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrayed a variation of the character in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. The final two major live-action Robin appearances came in the TV show тιтans, in which Brenton Thwaites portrayed Dick Grayson and Currant Walters brought Jason Todd to life.
Why So Few Robins Have Appeared In Batman’s Live-Action History
Robin Is Never As Big A Focus As Batman
With the character’s lowly nine live-action appearances in the 82 years since 1943 in mind, the question becomes why so many Batman movies struggle to adapt Robin. Although it is worth noting that TV efforts over the years have tended to depict Robin well, a character as iconic as him can be argued to have had more satisfying on-screen roles, especially where Batman movies are concerned. Primarily, the reason for Robin’s absence in most Batman iterations is the idea that Batman is a loner.
Batman often sells better as a lonely, troubled orphan who fights crimes to overcome his fears and tragic backstory. Implementing a close relationship with a young man like Robin into this dynamic could have been seen as removing what makes Batman special to many Hollywood filmmakers over the years. Stemming from this, Robin’s inclusion in Batman stories would detract from, well, Batman. By leaving Robin out of many stories, it is easier to provide a satisfying character arc for The Dark Knight.
A character like Robin is more “comic-booky” than most Batman movies tend to be…
Another potential reason is that a character like Robin is more “comic-booky” than most Batman movies tend to be. Since Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989, there is no denying that the character has been utilized in grounded, realistic, dark movies that emphasize the more brutal and gothic aspects of the DC Comics source material. As such, Robin is usually left out given his younger, more naive nature, his brightly colored costume, and his usual father-son bond with Bruce Wayne.
The DCU’s Robin Setup Means The Franchise Could Break DC’s 82-Year-Long Record In A Fraction Of The Time
The Franchise Seems To Be Ushering In A New Age For Robin
Despite Robin’s few appearances over a mᴀssive period in DC’s live-action properties, the DCU has already set itself up to surpᴀss that number of roles in a much shorter time. Batman’s DCU future has been confirmed to, seemingly, begin with The Brave and the Bold, a story that will introduce a version of Robin from the off: Damian Wayne. Already this will mark one appearance for the character in the DCU that will undoubtedly lead to more, either via sequels to The Brave and the Bold or other spin-offs. Then there is Dynamic Duo.
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Gunn confirmed Dynamic Duo in October 2024, a story that will depict the early days of two different Robins. Dick Grayson and Jason Todd will be the тιтular duo in the animated film that is set to premiere in 2028. Already, that is three Robin appearances in only three years – two of which will eventually translate to live-action – given the DCU truly begins in 2025 with Superman and presuming The Brave and the Bold releases before then. Moreover, James Gunn has confirmed that the DCU’s Bat Family will have a prominent role, meaning Dick, Jason, and Damian will continue into other projects.
Why The DC Universe Featuring Plenty Of Batman’s Sidekicks Would Be Great For The Franchise
Differentiation Is Key
With all of these Robin appearances in mind, it is worth asking why the DCU featuring Batman’s sidekicks would be such a benefit for the fledgling franchise. The primary reason for this is differentiation. As alluded to, the live-action Batman franchises of the past have mostly neglected characters like Robin, Batgirl, and Nightwing, especially in connection to the Caped Crusader himself. Including the Bat Family in a big way in the DCU would give the franchise a uniqueness over the likes of The Dark Knight trilogy, Burton’s Batman, and even Matt Reeves’ ongoing The Batman saga.
The differentiation between the DCU Batman and Matt Reeves’ The Batman would also help general audiences separate the two franchises that are running concurrently.
Another benefit is the potential for more comic book-accurate Batman movies. Many have hoped that the DCU will delve into the more fantastical elements of Batman that most live-action franchises tend to shy away from, especially given the higher fantasy elements included in Creature Commandos and teased for James Gunn’s Superman movie. The Bat Family could add to this fantastical feeling given that they often help Batman take down the more otherworldly villains of Gotham. For these reasons, the DCU breaking the 80-year-old Robin record in a shorter time would only benefit the franchise.
