One of the things that I’m looking forward to the most in the new DC Universe is “Batman: Brave and the Bold,” directed by Andy Muschietti. The movie will be coming out sometime in the next few years.
It will star Batman and Robin, the first live-action movie in decades to do so. Robin serves as Batman’s sidekick, with many different characters having taken on the vigilante name over the years. This movie will be specifically focusing on Damian Wayne, the blood son of Batman, as Robin.
Robin, despite being an integral part of Batman’s character, hasn’t been included in live-action movies since “Batman & Robin” in 1997. There was the “Titans” show in 2018, which featured three of the Robins, but the show was a poor adaptation of the characters and stories, and audiences never got to see the much-anticipated “dynamic duo” in action.
The reason Robin hasn’t been included in many live-action movies is that it’s difficult to portray a kid running around the streets of Gotham with Batman without it coming off as just plain silly. It doesn’t exactly fit Christopher Nolan or Matt Reeve’s more gritty Batman universes.
But what these directors don’t understand is how critical Robin’s role is in the Batman movies. Robin acts as the light to Batman’s darkness. Jason Todd was Batman’s second Robin, taking on the name after his predecessor, Dick Grayson, moved on from the role. When Jason Todd died, Batman became more brutal and violent. Tim Drake, the third Robin, took on the mantle to pull him out of the dark.
I’m looking forward to seeing not only Robin in the new “Brave and the Bold” movie but more of the expansive Batfamily. Damian Wayne is actually Batman’s fifth Robin, with the other Robins having moved on from the role, taking on new vigilante identities. Because the movie is starting off with Damian’s run as Robin, that means that many of the other Gotham vigilantes have already been established and are a part of the Batfamily, making them all potential candidates to be in the new movie.
Many people see Batman as a vigilante who works alone, but he actually has a whole network of vigilantes to rely on, most of which he trained and raised. The dynamics that they’ve had with Batman have all varied, but they all serve as a balance to Batman in their own ways, growing into heroes of their own right.
Dick Grayson, the first Robin, has always been the most well-known one, so there’s no doubt that he’ll make an appearance in the new movie. I’m hoping that Tim Drake will also appear in the movie, as he’s often left out of Batman adaptations despite his significance. After Jason Todd’s death, Tim took on the mantle of Robin because he understood that “Batman needs a Robin,” making his motivations completely selfless, compared to someone like Dick Grayson, who, despite being very heroic, became Robin because he wanted to track down his parent’s killer. Tim was also Robin right before Damian, making his role in the movie essential if the plot of the movie starts before Damian becomes Robin or right when he starts being Robin.
Needless to say, like other fans, I have high hopes for “Batman: the Brave and the Bold,” especially with the revival of the Batman and Robin duo.
