By The Batman family is growing in the DC cinematic universe. For one, Matt Reeves agreed to direct the new Batman movie. On top of that, Warner Bros. is now planning a live-action Nightwing movie. The Lego Batman Movie director Chris Kay is in talks to helm the film.
For those unfamiliar with Nightwing, he is the adult alter ego of Dick Grayson, the original Robin. Rather than remain Batman’s sidekick, Dick decided to strike out in his own. Dick eventually left Gotham City to fight crime in nearby Blüdhaven (a very 90s name for a place).
From a story perspective, Dick Grayson’s always been compelling to me. He’s an innately gifted acrobat and athlete who’s been trained in martial arts and sleuthing by the world’s greatest detective. Bruce Wayne mentors Dick Grayson, like a father-figure or a big brother giving someone the tools they wish they’d had when they were in a similar position. If that’s your childhood, where do you go from there?
More than that, I think comics writer and critic Chris Sims made an astute observation about Dick Grayson: one of his unsung superpowers is that everyone likes him. If you were a superhero in the DC universe, chances are you’d be friends with Dick Grayson.
And yet, this may not be a good move for Warner Bros. right now. They’re counting chicks before they’ve hatched. Hell, there aren’t even eggs.
Dick Grayson hasn’t yet been introduced to the DC cinematic universe. The new Batman movie isn’t in production. There’s no gauge on the interest in a solo film about Batman’s former sidekick. No one’s cast. No script is in place.
Yet this typifies the Warner Bros. approach to a cinematic universe: throw all the spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks. Wait–maybe we should have boiled the spaghetti first.
Chaos reigns.
What do you think? Do you like Nightwing? Would you be interested in a Nightwing film? Let us know in the comments.
[via THR/Heat Vision]