Several weeks ago, rumors circled offline once again that Robin would appear in the sequel to The Dark Knight. It reminded me of the “rumor waves” last year when everyone in the industry suddenly discovered The Long Halloween storyline and held it up as the script to Christopher Nolan’s second Batman sequel. According to StarPulse, Christian Bale not only considers Robin lame, he has threatened to remake The Machinist as a documentary if the character crosses his path…
“If Robin crops up in one of the new Batman films, I’ll be chaining myself up somewhere and refusing to go to work.”
Some fans will be blinded by a premature warm happiness after reading, “one of the new Batman films,” but Nolan has insisted this a trilogy. No matter, we are of the agreement that not only should Robin be dismissed, the word “robin” in general should be banned from this franchise. It’s not dark enough, nor does it embolden comparisons to The Godfather 2, Heat, and an “extraordinary cinematic revolution” spelled out by 400,000 lit firecrackers. Actually, that last one is worthy of Robin. We josh.
Discuss: /Film welcomes the International Robin Fanclub’s “boycott TDK” campaign. Insomnia aside, should there by a similar franchise ban on Robin Williams? We’re not endorsing it.
via Vulture
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Robin would, not only ruin the batman “Trilogy”? But seriously fuck up all the respect I have for Christopher Nolan, or anyone else who could let such a homosexual thing happen…Good news to hear. Makes me happy.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Best news I’ve heard all day!
Robin would be some lame,
and he would ruin this epic trilogy.
Go Bale!
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I knew Robin wouldn’t be in it. But then again, Bale was in Equilibrium.
Yes, I will be beating this fucking horse until it comes back to life.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
What if he had a really cool looking suit? Hmm?
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I don’t know, i’m very sure that Nolan ‘n Crew would make gold out of it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I think they could work him into there. How dark would the next Batman be if the one shred of innocence left in the series died an epically gruesome death?
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
The only Robin could look cool is if got a hold of a time machine. Went back in time, and beat Bruce Wayne in becoming Batman.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
This is why I like Christian Bale as an actor… despite Equilibrium.
You have no idea how glad I am to hear Robin won’t play a part in the third film… As much as I respect Nolan, I have no clue how he could make Robin fit into this… and make him cool.
By the way… Remaking The Machinist as a Documentary? Isn’t that George Lucas’ next movie?
I kid…
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Awesome. Robin belongs in the old Adam West t.v. show where he completes the awesome silliness.
The only way Robin would work in this franchise is if he is just as messed up and badass as Batman otherwise he can take his emo self elsewhere. This Batman has no limits and most def doesn’t need a sidekick.
Batman says, “Backup? What the hell is backup?”
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I don’t see anything wrong with Nightwing showing up. Sure we’re talking about ROBIN and not Nightwing but it’s the same guy only older. But it would just take away from the films, keep it focused on just Bruce.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Bale ill suck your…..
thankyoufor NO F****** BOY WONDER
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Sounds like someone doesn’t want to share the limelight.
Robin could be introduced in a dark manner. Perhaps as a child left orphaned by one of Batman’s botched rescue attempts.
But yeah, I guess there’s really no reason to bring him back.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 pm
i will now not watch the dark knight…
/sarcasm
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
There are only two reasons it would be bad to not have Robin in these versions, 1) then they couldn’t kill him off and 2) then you’d never be able to do the Hush storyline. But since both Hush and the Long Halloween both involve so many of Batman’s villains, they’d probably be a mess onscreen anyway.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I heard Chris O’donnell wants to reprise the role……………………………………….jesus christ. Thank god.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Robins a pussy anyway, Bale would just wined up beating the shit out of him for two hours….which I would still watch.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
At this time it makes no sense to have Robin in the franchise anyways.
I can see years after the 3rd Nolan Batman film that they could come back and start a new Batman epic and maybe then it would make sense or maybe it won’t but the point is that it doesn’t make any sense at all to have Robin in this epic story arc.
But if the did come back after the 3rd Batman I think it’s plausible that as Bruce Wayne is getting older and there are more and more criminals that are sophisticated the he would need help.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
robin, if done ever, should be done in the frank miller way.
anyway robin doesn’t need to be in these films now anyway they are good with just batman.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
i’m going to sound lame for saying this, but there has never been a good version of robin onscreen. If nolan reinvented the character to fit with the style of his films, Robin could be amazing.
Check out the version of Robin in Paul Pope’s terrific “Batman: Year 100″, where he DOESN’T wear a costume and fight with Batman, but instead communicates with him through an ear peice, while sitting in a van looking at screens and blue prints etc of the building Batman is infiltrating. Kind of a Mission: Impossible team.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
They should so bring back Chris O’Donnell for Robin! Not to mention the bat nipple suits…And Halle Barry can play Catwoman!
There are some things not even Chris Nolan can fix.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Rob?n ?s just so freak?ng queer. I mean, how the fuck does Batman hope to instill fear in murders and rapist with that queer fuck hanging around with that queer costume.
Over and out.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I think if they just had him show up as night wing. Maybe also he would have had a dad that was a wheel man for two face and gets killed. Then Whanye teaches him in the same way he was trained.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
If Catwoman ever appears - it better frickin’ be played by Angelina Jolie. She’s the only biatch in that town that can hold Bale’s jock (so-to-speak).
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I agree with Bale. Robin is comedic relief and should be left out of a serious movie “trilogy.” Too me, it would kind of take away from the batman experience.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Thank god
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
thank god! the ONLY way robin could have the slightest chance of working would be if they made it one of the female robin’s. even that would probably suck.
i’m still not even sold on all the riddler rumors, but i know the nolan’s will pimp it out.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
It would be cool if it was a set up nod like he had Dick come live with him in the 3rd one at the end. So you know the rest of the story so they would not have to tell it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I couldn’t see even down the road that in this Batman world that Robin would be a traditional sidekick/partner.
I think if he was introduced into this franchise then it would be more in the realm as a right hand man to Batman the way Alfred and Lucius Fox are, not as his partner in crime fighting.
The only way that it would make any sense to me is if Batman takes in a kid with a similar situation as himself and takes him under his wing at some point trains and teaches as Ra’s al Ghu did for him but for the right reasons.
As I said before this Robin wouldn’t be a sidekick but more a student and an intern that would help Batman on the detective end while also training and learning the trade that is Batman to maybe one day take over Batman for Bruce Wayne or maybe become his own costumed vigilante crime fighting hero.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Am i the only one you really liked Equilibrium???
WTF?>??
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
+
what about batgirl? we’d all love to see batgirl done right. i think Batman the Animated series did her perfectly.
however, i don’ t know if she’d translate well into this version of batman.
if batman were done like sincity she’d fit in great.
+
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Dude his parents die, how is that not dark. You can’t convince me that Nolan couldn’t write THE ultimate robin. I get that it doesn’t fit in the story you want to tell, but don’t put Mr. Grayson down. There’s a dark twisted story to tell, a boy loses everything and embraces a man that has never wanted anything but justice for the loss of his own everything. Come on Nolan write the damn story.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
unless robin was his hallucinatory, imaginatory, invisible dark, alter ego… keep him out. there comes a point that you have to remember a lot of these characters were invented back in the 1950’s when artists were trying to capture kids eyes with bright colors in the Sunday morning papers or comic books.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Im sitting here trying to think of ways to make robin “cool” but no luck… Robin is about the same as giving batman a super dog sidekick, just no way to take it serious.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I think that honestly Bales comments regarding the direction of the bat-franchise and Robin in particular are pretty much baseless. He’s not a fan of the source material, and that kind of kills him in terms of what he thinks would make a cool Batman flick, if you’re not familiar with the comics, then I think that a more fair statement would be that “As so far as he has been portrayed in film, Robin sucks complete ass.”
The problem with Robin is how horribly Robin has been portrayed so far in film. The Burt Ward Robin was clearly a joke, but the terrible late 20’s Robin that Chris O’Donnel portrayed, killed Robin as a film character.
I think that done well, Robin brings an important part to the Batman character, Robin serves as a way to humanize Batman. Robin is a mirror for Wayne to look into and vice versa, Robin can see where a path obsessed with justice takes him, and Wayne see’s what he missed out on in his youth. There’s a reason that Robin remains a sidekick, he’s needed.
Robin in the Bruce Timm animated series never felt campy, and it opens doors down the road to bring in Jason Todd, and have Nightwing, and eventually Tim Drake. I can’t imagine being interested in Batman comics without the supporting cast. A guy alone in a bat suit still not able to process his parents death 20 years after the fact is lame, and creepy. He requires the supporting cast to be able to expand his own character because he is such an isolationist. I understand the desire to make the “darkest” Batman film possible, but it does need to have human interaction that isn’t tragic at points, it does need levity. Robin brings that. Just don’t put him in the green shorts, or the little boots.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Good! We can live without a Robin.
However I think that if anyone could pull it off it would be Nolan.
REAL6:
I really like Equilibrium also. Bale was great in it.
It is a flawed gem to be honest. But still a gem. :)
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
1. Christian Bale has never done a bad movie. Equilibrium, The Machinist, The Prestige, Empire of the Sun, Swing Kids, American Psycho…did you know he was the voice of some Thomas guy in Pocahontas? The man is the best actor of this decade and can do no wrong.
2. Sharing the name with Robin himself, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in a future Batmas installment. Granted the role played by Chris O’ Donnell were horrific, the old 60’s was great, and like stated above, I’m sure Nolan could weave a great, dark story with Nightwing involved. And it wouldn’t kill the franchise either.
Now, if after this Batman trilogy is done, he went ahead and did an original Robin film, I’d put money on the fact that everyone here would see it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I say Kip is right. Robin is not such a bad character. Anyway, having that said, i wouldn’t mind not to see him in future batman films.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Jordan 2099 makes some good points…
But fuck it man, Robin’s just not gonna work at this juncture. Maybe if they make a 4,5, and 6.
And now it sounds like we’re talking about fucking Star Wars…
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I don’t think there is a need for Robin in Nolan’s Batman. We’re
watching the beginning of Batman it would be premature even in
a third movie to add the Dick Grayson character.
I think Nolan could pull it off if he was interested, but the character
would definitely have to change because no one wants to see a
repeat of the Batman & Robin debacle.
Robin translates fine in the comic and in Batman the Animated
Series, but I’m not sure we need him in a film. I’d rather skip the youth and go straight to Nightwing.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
For people who practically worship the ground Nolan walks on, you have no faith that he can pull Robin off. If they could make Robin work in a third (or fourth) installment then the studio could spin-off a Nightwing series so the same thing doesn’t happen to Nolan’s series as it did to Burton’s.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I would love if Robin were to make an appearance somewhere. As long as he’s done right. I agree on Jordan on this one. The relationship between Batman and Robin is important. Not only would there be so much to work with there, but it would also open up the possibility of a Nightwing spinoff.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Batman is a loner. He doesn’t need some obnoxious kid at his side.
Nolan said plenty times he doesn’t want his version to stray into the cartoon like caricatures found in other material. Which is evident from these two films so far. Robin is an unnecessary device in a story revolving around a great character like Batman.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Ok, so Robin is pretty integral in certain stories in the Batverse. But, not this one. He fits really well into certain Frank Miller stories. He belongs in certain aspects. But, he doesn’t belong in this telling of Batman. I’m sure that, if Nolan decided to do it, it could possibly be cool, but I just keep my fingers crossed that he doesn’t. I wouldn’t mind seeing a hint of Nightwing or just hearing about another guy called Nightwing without actually seeing him just to satiate us fanboys. But, even being a hardcore Batman fanboy doesn’t make me want to see Robin.
Honestly, I’d like to see Two-Face be the core villain in the third flick and not much focus on anyone else. I think the Riddler is a cheap knock off and is very rarely written well and only written well as an aside. Him as the main villain in the third flick could knock it totally off kilter. Batman has a huge rogues gallery that works really well in the books…but, translating some of them to film (despite how well Scarecrow was done) would be really hard.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Robin is a bad idea for a Batman sidekick in this series.
If they decide he needs and ally: The Oracle. Wheelchair bound Barbara Gordon running intel for Batman. She has her mobility taken from her like Batman had his parents taken from him. She’s the power behind the cape, when Batman can’t run everything into the computer and be in the field at the same time.
Nightwing, Batgirl, Black Canary, Huntress… all worthy additions to the comics and animated series, but all would be in the field and take away what Batman’s got: the power to get things done as one man against all.
Thought I have to say… put Hitman Tommy Monaghan in a Batman movie and now you got a flick.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Who is Night Wing?
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Melvin,
He’s a budget version of Batman. Minus the cape and cowl. He also cries a lot because no one cares about him.
Much like Vincent Gallo.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Nightwing is Robin all grown’d up. They finally were making him interesting in the outsiders with Boomerang Jr. and a few other great off cast characters, then Infinite Crisis screwed all that up.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I’m glad there’s to be no Robin, but I think guys like “/hardly working” and “Jake Nelson” are just afraid they’ll get aroused if they see a gymnastic pre-teen on the big screen. ;)
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
i’d still see it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Told ya.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Robin would suck.
Equilibrium was awesome.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
ok…I agree with not having Robin and will not repeat what everyone else is expressing here… but just to throw it out… how about having a Robin (minus the silly tights) and then killing him all in the same film?… that’d still be dark eh?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Good move.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Big NO to Robin…..But Nightwing?!!?!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
This is how you do it:
Introduce robin in his own movie. Do it similar to Batman begins. Hell, call it robin begins. but now bruce wayne is training….Jason todd.
Make it the Jason todd story.
Then in the next batman move, kill him at the beginning.
There, I would practically kill to see that batman movie. who wouldn’t?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Unfortunately, if Robin did indeed show up and is subsequently killed, it won’t be by the Joker’s hands.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
If it were to be pulled off, you would definitely need to do away with the gimmicky clothes, it must be state of the art - should essentially serve a purpose (cape is bulletproof, mask over his face give him night vision and such)- Perhaps wear little inuendos to honor his dead family) and the movie must bring in a much darker child into the story (throw in some flashbacks of bruce seeing his parents get shot as he witnesses the grayson parents die from a cirque de solei style performance). Robin could be the boy wonder who performs all sorts of awesome stunts before his whole family actually performs their act (could be done beautifully with the Alegria/Opera style singing in the background). It can be pulled off with the style Nolan has implemented, but the interest and the idealism have to be there.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I dunno. The death of Robin (tim drake, i believe) was a pretty compelling storyline. The Joker had beat him almost to the point of death with a crowbar, and left him in a train car helpless with his estranged mother bound in a vest of dynamite. Dark enough for ya? Who woudn’t want to see that on an IMAX screen?
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Dude! Robin as Batman’s side kick blows, an incredible gay looking character and would have little point in this series. A short flash forward segment where we see a much darker and not so happy with Batman, Night Wing, might be worth a look but Robin was way too sissy and would ruin this version of Batman as put together by Nolan and Bale.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I wonder what Tim Burton thinks of Nolans take on the Dark Knight?
I can allready hear Joel Schumocker,,,, “O my Gawd there’s no colors,,,,, girlfriend its way too realistic. ,,,,, what no Robyn ? and those outfits what happened to the nips? Waaaaaarrrdddddrrrroooobbbbeeee!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
the chick robin was interesting in the one series of comics… i love these new movies though.. i would love to see lots more in this style, a proper harley or huntress would make me cream my panties
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:15 am
What if Alfred is robin and goes along to kick ass. Just kidding but it would be amusing to see. Nolan and bale are the shit and the Dark Knight will be dope.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 am
Jordan nailed it on the head.I love the series so far, however I want to come away with last movie with something of feeling good. Not depressed. He’s a hero.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 am
All Star Batman and Robin is one take on the story. For the Nolan/Bale movies Robin isn’t part of the original story.
Robin was introduced to satisfy the Comic Code people back in the day - as I remember - because Batman was too dark, too adult, and too scary, too much like the horror comics that were ‘corrupting’ the nations youth.
the brightly coloured costumed child was a fix to lighten the tone of the comics
Only when the solitary hero story arc is played out, then a frank miller-esque Robin would be interesting, here Robin is really about saving Bruce’s humanity.
Child soldiers are real. 16 year old recruits saw service in the gulf by 17.
Robin should be costumed along the lines of an urban Robin Hood, think dark, black green and greys. rather than the Robin a small bird.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:03 am
THANK YOU GOD!!!
because, seriously, there is no possible way to introduce Robin into gthis franchise without losing its credibility as a collection of the most “realistic” superhero films. there is just no way to get around it. the dialogue, the characterisation. Robin belongs in the Joel Schumacher films.
and @ jordan2099: the very fact that robin is a child would hijack the whole franchise. Bale’s batman would never entertain the idea of bringing a child into his personal war on crime. and what are you gonna do? have Morgan freeman make him a little red version of the batsuit? because that would royally suck….it would be chris o’donnel all over again.
in short, robin belongs in the shorts and boots……and not in the new batman franchise.
;-D
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:38 am
Just like its been stated above it’s really unfortunate that live action robins up until now have all sucked. And its true that its way too early in story for Robin to even be thought of (though a Circus poster in the background of a scene with Flying Graysons on it would be awesome). But to write him off i think is not a good idea. A good script writer with an understanding of the comic roots would probably relish the challenge, and it would be a challenge. The ‘plausiblity’ of Nolan’s films has been what sets them apart and no one is going to buy into a 13 yo crime fighter. However, the source material’s there and shouldn’t be disregarded. If not for any other reason than for authenticity. The first film, and by the looks of it the second film too, have been careful to respect key elements in Batman’s history that influence his development and the changes in Gothem. If the series went to a 4th or 5th picture they would have to seriously consider someway of at least including the Robin ‘concept’ as key event’s in Batman’s makeup later on involve and in some cases center on Robin.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:59 am
Robin doesn’t need to be a sidekick. He just needs to be an apprentice.
Batman is aging, or knows that someday he will be gone, as time will not stop. He knows The Work needs to continue - there will always be a new Villain.
Batman needs someone he can respect, that will be a student, who is young, capable, has no family ties, can be molded, and will one day BE Batman.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:02 am
I think having Robin appear later in the series (if they move past a trilogy) would be needed. Introduce all the villians against Batman, maybe show a little team up between a couple of them. But once you show all the villias how many times can you show Batman fight the same person before it grows stale? Then bring in Robin for a movie or two just to jump the storyline to the point after Dick leaves the Batcave for good. There’s alot of good material in the comics after Robins leaves that would translate well to film.
Use Robin as a supporting character to move the story along then ditch him.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:38 am
@ J S
It sounds like you just suggested that Batman Beyond become a live-action movie franchise. Incidentally, that sounds awesome. Bring it on!
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:14 am
If they are gonna put a robin type character in the movie it should be nightwing granted nightwing was robin. This would allow a robin type character in the movie but i more adult and darker robin.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 am
Remember when Nolan cast Ledger as the joker. Well I remember it was an ugly affair in pretty much every forum. Now…. well now things are quite different. If Nolan chooses to give us Robin, Mr. Freeze, Penguin or anything else that seems out of place in the new Bat Universe he created, I believe he can adapt it and make it work.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 am
out of all these comments, i’m amazed at how many people really DON’T have a grasp on the mythology behind the Batman character. there are probably two comments that truly show the insight and research/knowledge necessary to actually give a valid opinion on the Robin issue.
Robin is a very important, and arguably (obviously) necessary character for Bruce/Batman. after Nolan/Bale’s Bruce loses Harvey, i think it would be very appropriate to at least move in the direction of hinting at Robin at the end of the trilogy… perhaps the 3rd script should include Robin, but it is obvious that the masses are not perceptive enough to ‘get it,’ and thus all the work might be wasted. i mean, it’s clear that people, including Bale, have already made assumptions about the Robin character… he’s not Powers’ ‘Wing,’ for crying out loud. and he’s not Burt Ward.
and please tell me that someone else was pissed that Nolan wrote the Zorro movie right out of Bruce’s origin and instead made him a bed-wetter who gets scared at a ballet…?
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 am
i would love to see robin!
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 am
David - you are right, the worse thing about the nolan adaption was the lack of Zorro. the theatre thing didn’t work, crime alley outside a classy opera house? an old fashioned movie house showing a run of classic Zorro movies off crime alley - now that’s logical.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
What if instead of robin we could get nightwing?
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Honestly, what was wrong with Equilibrium?
I know it was a straight-to-DVD movie, but it wasn’t that terrible. It had Sean Bean in it too.
Is it just the stigma that a DVD-only movie can’t be good?
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 am
I think that a large part of why there is a resistance to Robin is that there is a general consensus that these movies have to reach this incredible level of darkness to be good. I would again like to point out that Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series had a dark theme, but still managed to be accessible and introduce basically the entire cast in full costume without playing it down.
This “war on crime” aspect that’s been mentioned, that seems to be pulled from the god awful Frank Miller(who normally is awesome) All Star Batman and Robin series, which has been a complete and utter distortion of the characters from the start. I don’t want to hear “war on crime” its Batman, not the Punisher. Its justice not vengance. The part of the character that the Nolan films are missing, and to me the most interesting part, is the detective aspect. How lame was it in Begins that you had this huge history between Ra’s and Wayne from the comics and you don’t have Ra’s reference him as “the detective” once, you don’t have Batman doing any type of detective work, instead opting to try and fall in love with some girl again. I love that there’s this “Robin sucks” bandwagon, but no one is bitching about the invented character of Rachel Dawes, or the fact that Bruce is again going to be pining for her.
I don’t think that Robin should make an appearance in the Nolan films because they clearly haven’t been setup as such, but down the road when they do the next set, hopefully they get a director who better understands the source material, and we get an actual accurate translation of the character, and a more filled out supporting cast.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 am
Anyone who thinks they could pull of Robin at any level needs to get their head checked. This is great news!
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Yeah killrobin you’re right, I mean its not like that character has been sustained in the source material for any period of time. I mean yeah there’s been a Robin for almost as long as there has been a Batman, and yeah when the first one graduated to the Titans and became Nightwing they replaced him with another Robin, and then when that one died, they brought in a third, but that was probably an accident, its not like Robin is integral to Batman in any way.
Does anyone even read Batman comics? It seems like a majority of these comments stem from people who’ve only seen Batman movies.
Maybe in The Dark Knight Bruce will get Rachel pregnant and they’ll have a baby. That way their kid can play with Clark’s super baby. I smell a team up.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
jordan, i agree. it doesn’t seem like most of those commenting have actually read much Batman… just seen the movies, which automatically makes one an expert, i think.
i also agree about Dawes, i just didn’t want to open that can of worms…
and clark’s kid made me want to cry over the disgusting treatment of the Superman mythology
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 am
I would want it to be the Tim Drake Robin.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Side Note, totally agree, Batman is a better detective than the entire Gotham Police Force and they should show and focus that. With the popularity of such crime/detective shows. And that guy is right, RAS does refer to batman as detective. Too much material to go off of, because Frank Miller wrote batman different than O’Neil wrote him, and different than what Dixon wrote him, and Jeph Loeb writes him different as well, so it depends on what writer you are reading determing on how you like your batman.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I agree that I would like to see Robin done more as an apprentice rather than a sidekick. The whole line in the trailer when he mentions what he has to become to stop men like the Joker, is exactly the reason why Robin should be put in the movie. If the movie is as dark as is reported, there will be a place for a Robin-like character to save Bruce’s humanity.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Batman without Robin is stupid.
http://tinyurl.com/4g4bzd
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Krackajap has nailed it. Bruce needs redemption, and I think that Robin provides that. If you have Bruce unchecked as Batman with no sort of human grounding point, its hard to relate to that character because of how deep his obsession leads.
I also agree that the Tim Drake Robin would be a great starting point because his character has had more developmental time as Robin, he has the whole deal with his father knowing he’s Robin and not endorsing the idea, him discovering the identity of Batman and earning his way into the role would play to a general audience much better than “tragic circus accident” which unfortunately kind of dates the material.
I was talking to a co-worker about the movie, and he’s excited because its soooo dark and Batman’s sooo dark, and its going to be gritty. That’s great, and hooray for no nipples or bat-skates, but as someone who’s read Batman comics consistently for the last 20 years, I enjoy the dark themes, but I read it not because its dark, but because in the middle of this horrible city you have Bruce trying to do what he can to contain it and at the same time not loose himself in all that darkness. Its the supporting cast that keeps him afloat and stable. In Knightfall Tim was worried that Bruce was losing his grasp, in No Man’s Land Batgirl provided the foil to Bruce as an example of what his life could have been like had he not had Alfred to balance him. Oracle constantly reminds him that he needs to be nice to people every once in awhile. Left alone and without these supports, Batman becomes a one note character.
For me the definitive Batman film is still Mask of the Phantasm.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I bet they will introduce Robin at the end of Batman 3
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
thank god.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Just wanted to quickly point out, I noticed that people are referring to the current Batman series, as “Nolan’s Universe”. This is what Warner/DC are doing completely wrong. Its not Nolan’s Universe, its the DC Universe. I don’t remember hearing “Faverau’s Universe” once with Iron Man. Its the Marvel Universe. DC should have control over the properties being developed and ensuring that the source material is being respected. I don’t want an art flick Hulk as much as I don’t want an art flick Batman.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Am I the only one who thinks the idea of putting night wing in instead of robin is a stupid idea? Half the people in the theater would be like who the hell is Nightwing and why should i care about his emo ass. Robin at least gives the starting point. Randomly adding Nightwing would be like randomly giving superman a super powered child with little to no explanation……
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I think Robin would be good ONLY if he was portrayed as an emo guy obsessed with batman who becomes a stalker, finds out Wayne’s batman, then threatens to go public, so he blackmails batman into becoming his partner. THen we find out that batman killed his abusive alchoholic father and Robin is greatful. Bruce sees some of himself in Robin, so he makes him his survailence guy as batman like Paul Pope thought of. Also, assuming that SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!rachel dies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILer ALERT OVER!!!!!!!
Bruce could see Robin as his one chance to get rid of the Batsuit and leave it all behind. It wouldn’t work if this is just going to be a trilogy tho
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
If they chose to do robin itll have to be some messed up kinda of robin and not holly rusted metal batman kinda robin . And if they do bring in a robin into the third movie is this third instalment becoming more and more like batman forever in terms with two face already beeing there, the thought that the riddler will be in it and now talk of a robin i say penguine if anyone can make it more real its nolan!!!!!
Philip seymore hoffman aka the penguine!!!!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Its not batman with out Robin………..
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I agree with a lot of your points, a lot of them are really good. But I think Robin is a very important part of the Batman Mythos. Robin is the character that brings balance to Batman. Batman tends to be a cruel and dark person (Which I think is awesome), but without Robin, or Alfred, for that matter, Batman would have been even darker and crueller (which would be that cool). Plus, Robin also brings that sense of friendship that Alfred cannot offer Batman. In conclusion, I don’t think it is wise to discard the idea of an incarnation of Robin in any future sequel of Nolan’s Batman, specially if the reason is because of the stupid past Batman Movie’s interpretation of Robin.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Well there’s two reasons that Robin shouldn’t be in this series:
1- he’s a lame character and wouldn’t fit the dark image of this set of movies
2- Bale isn’t old enough to incorporate a Robin character. There is supposed to be about a 20 year age difference between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. It just doesn’t work right.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
/Film just posted a new round to this debate, featuring Jeph Loeb’s defense of the character in a Batman 3. Check it out.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:31 am
I hate Robin. I’ve always hated Robin. It should be Batman and Batman alone.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:11 am
You know what would be even better for the franchise.If they shoot it in completely black. I mean black like nothing on the screen and the only sound is the actors voices and metal grinding against the street. Is that dark and gritty enough for ya?
July 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Equilibrium is awesome. Also Robin should not be introduced into this trilogy but have no problem if done right for him to be in any future movies.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:00 am
People do realize that the Adam West show and Batman Forever and Batman and Robin are horribly done and do not do justice for the Robin character of the comics right? I would love to see Robin done right on the screen. Seems a lot of people only know of Robin on the big screen. Have you read the comics?
July 4th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Robin in a Batman movie certainly couldn’t make it any worse. At least then there would be an obvious reason for all the gay people who like these flicks to stand up and say “Yes…Batman is our champion!”
I get the biggest kick out of seeing how many people are looking forward to this steaming horse turd of a movie!
July 4th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I don’t write off any character as having the capability of being awesome with the correct script treatment and actor. Now I probably hate Robin as much as anyone else here and do NOT want him in the third movie (let’s make sure this trilogy is awesome before taking that kind of risk) but I do recognize that you can mold a character over and over until you have something that looks amazing. The best idea I’ve heard so far is treating Robin as a kind of eye in the sky surveillance man, using equipment to give Batman crucial information and maybe occasionally causing a distraction (e.g. driving his car through a wall while he’s surrounded). This lets us avoid his idiotic costume and the campy side-by-side fighting aspect.
For those who write off the Riddler, I would argue in much the same way. Take away the lime green question marks and any semblance of Jim Carey. Let’s say give him a British accent, make him use incredibly big words and talk circles around anybody he encounters, a sheer plotting genius who uses trickery as his primary weapon because he believes himself to be above everyone else intellectually. Could even dress very nicely, suits and all, like an advertisement from GQ or something. Ironically his trademark feature, the riddles, are his ultimate downfall because he only uses them to reference himself in a mocking manner towards his enemies. As if they cannot deduce the actual meaning in time anyway.
However, I don’t think either should appear in the third film, simply on the basis that they both were added in the third of the earlier series and I’m sure they don’t want that kind of comparison. Let them do the remains of Joker’s gang, or the False Facers, or Zsasz, or an actually good version of Mr. Freeze. Hush has a neat style too if they could write him in well enough. That’s all from me.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
You are all considering previous Robin depictions, where he is absolutely lame. But I am certain that if Nolan wanted to do a badass Robin, he could. There’s a lot of darkness that could be embedded in his character, especially if you removed the cliches and dorky costume. I love Bale, but he doesn’t want anyone stealing HIS scenes. That’s the truth. In the Nolan universe, Robin could work. Fanboys would be pissed about it for months (i.e. the Joker - ledger) and then see a trailer with a really cool Robin, and suddenly jump on the band wagon. But Bale seriously needs to act a little more mature, and have faith in the screenplay, director, and costume design. Robin is a part of the Batman story whether you like it or not. It always has, and Nolan SHOULD take the responsibility to do it RIGHT once and for all.
July 5th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Christopher Nolan is pro. He makes batman look awesome in a more darker and grittier way compared to other batman films. Why not make robin look awesome too? I don’t know… at least introduce him in some manner like as a young orphan child who lost his parents in the accident. I mean if they did this in the end of the movie. Everyone is going to be like oh man… that’s the next robin!
July 6th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I think they should add Robin as his sidekick somewhere along the line becuase thats’ what they did in The Tv Series and the comics I mean his parents are not alive as well he has a dark side to a little bit if they would make Robin really cool then I would go see it but lestin people if you saw Return to the Batcave movie see how they done that they aren’t gay at all they were just stupid rurmors.So I think Chris B should put Robin in the next movie becuase he would make a great sidekick I think.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:29 am
they could possibly replace robin with Nightwing (robin turns into Nightwing later on). I doubt Batwomen is going to make an appearance ever. I’ve always felt that Robin has always been part of the Batman story line.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I really hope they have Robin in Nolan’s franchise… so he could be killed. That would be his most usefull (and certainly, the only) contribution, get killed, and that was the most important contribution from the Joker in comics, killing Robin.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
That’s really funny…given that Bale auditioned and pushed for the role of Robin in “Batman Forever”.
Either his views have changed (maybe because he SAW how lame Robin turned out in “Batman Forever”?) or he’s a bit bitter.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:09 am
I think Robin should be in a Batman movie a long somewhere you some of you guys are wrong he should be in a moive so Batman should have a sidekick I mean what the heck is his back-up just stupid bats that’s dumb he need a sidekick in one of the movies so he can have a parnter to help him.He would do great if some one made him really cool and Robin is not lame.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
i think they can make robin dark, everyone knows BATMAN AND ROBIN, eventually fans will want Robin with batman, if they can make THE JOKER dark and not happy they can make ROBIN like that to
July 14th, 2008 at 1:12 am
I’m guessing most of the people here only know of Robin from the 60’s show or “The After Burton Saga”. Robin is, like Jordan2099 said, a look into Batman’s humanity. Without him it would be easy for Wayne to slip up and become a “monster” like his enemies.
I also agree with Bale and Nolan that Robin should stay out of these films. This arc should just stay focused on Batman becoming Gotham’s Dark Knight. Dick Grayson would be around 4 at this time anyway.
I think Robin down the line wouldn’t be a bad idea, it just takes the right people to put the character together. Frank Miller has written a pretty good origin to Dick Grayson in “Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder” And since Miller has turned to directing, maybe let him have a shot with it.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Ive always liked Robin, but im glad he wont be in this trilogy because it would take some of the beastliness out of batman. No real BAs have sidekicks. However, if they do what batman said a few comments up, make a robin movie then kill him in the batman movie, then i would most definitely approve of Robin’s appearance in the Trilogy.
As long as they don’t call him “The Boy Wonder” that is just embarrassing to the Trilogy.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
robin would f*** the batman franchise like they did before with the others.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I think they should put Robin in the new Batman movies like later on or so if they would make him really really cool it would work becuase he needs a sidekick but not right now I understand,and I also think they should not kill of Robin because he has so munch info on his charter also.Robin is awesome! You guys are all wrong.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
In my opinion I would include robin in the movie,only if he would be a teen,and not a spunky little kid.I would have him in the movie as a hot headed ounk who wants to fight crime the violent,no holds barred way,not the bruce wayne way.But he wouldn’t have that stupid costume.I don’t understand how people talk about not wanting robin,when you have a storyteller like Chris Nolan,who could make robin so believeable and awesome.I hope he does get a chance…….
July 18th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
It would be nice to have a gay Robin or Batman. Just another way to chip away at homophobia - one of the great shames of America, and the true abomination before God, for trying to turn gay people into untouchables, when they are all part of His Creation
July 19th, 2008 at 3:14 am
i just saw the dark knight and its the best fucking movie ever period.if they made robbin he would be a gay little faggit and no one would want to see that movie they should definitly do something with the mob again and a fuck up like the guy with the mask in the first one or the riddler played by wesley snipes just not with a gay little suit and not talking like such a douche like jim carrey did maaybe they could some how bring mr freeze just not make him so gay and not have a gun that shoots ice thats realy gay……the dark knight was the shit the best fucking movie ever u better beilieve it
July 19th, 2008 at 8:02 am
In my opinion I think they should have Robin as Batmsn sidekick it would be great if they would make him really cool and dark a little bit that would work.Just for your information Batman and Robin are not gay if you watch Return to the Batcave movie they were just rurmors they made up.So I say in the next couple of Batman movies they should put Robin in as his sidekick that would be awesome.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:18 am
@SteveMD2
Or “Her Creation”, you sexist pig.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Equilibriumm sucked ass hard. The movie constatly contradicts itself. The acting is horrible. The action was pathetic(this coming from a 20+ year experienced martial artist), The sceneray looked cheap; Obvious characters(like the motorcycle helmet idiots) were replicated in a most un-creative way. Take a psyche class guys, anyone with a face, every color can cause subconscience emotion so again INCONSISTENCY. The gun kata was stupid as shit and looked like something someone came up with in their back yard(and this coming from a 10+ year marine) Any idiot that has any realistic views of weapons knows you can STAND or pose anyway you want. If you are in the middle of 50 with semi’s you WILL get shot. In fact most scenes are reminiscent steven seagal, as enemy’s stand often surrounding Bale, waiting to be touched by Bale’s eloquent dance and display or ridiculousness.
seriously equilibrium was like a steven seagal frat boy film. I didnt even find it intelligent or witty. Extremist yes.
The Dark Knight and Batman Begins were Bale’s best works to date.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
@John D
Seriously? Have you not seen American Psycho, The Machinist, or Rescue Dawn? The Dark Knight belongs to Heath Ledger. Bale is a fine actor, and the above-mentioned films all showcase his immense talents, but he is not the reason TDK is blowing up.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Could they have already introduced robin as gordons son. He had a lil too much camara time for a small role? I know in some stories gordons daughter becomes batgirl but like I said his son had a lot of camara time and doing a third with some timed passed his age may work out.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Lol,,, JohnD,, I totally agree about equilibrium. But I don’t agree that his best work was in Batman Begins and TDK.
Yes Even I agree, that Ledger is stealing the thunder in TDK.
Hey JohnD have you seen “Empire of the Sun”. Check that out. ;-)
July 19th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I wouldn’t totally be against a Jason Todd Robin, because in the end he dies anyways, and then becomes Red Hood. But, they would need to bring the Joker back to kill him. So no Robin…I think somehow I’ll live.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Lets face it everyone…..Robin is a comedy sidekick, and with the direction of the latest film TDK it seems to be the most inappropriate character imaginable. I’d rather see The Ventriloquist/Scarface as the main villain than see Robin prance around going “Holy ”
Come on Hollywood…dont make the same mistakes as you did with Batman Forever and Batman & Robin
July 20th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
i agree do not have robin in the third one it’ll ruin it! And if they introduce cat woman i really hope they dont get angelina jolie, her head is too big!
July 20th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
“so it depends on what writer you are reading determing on how you like your batman”
The Saint say’s it best in his comment above…It all depends on how you like your Batman that makes you want to see The Boy Wonder on the big screen. All these opinions are great but after seeing Dark Knight I am happily convinced that Nolan and his team can take any character from the comic mythology and adapt it to fit his mood and style. A style that I hope is making most of you guys happy to an acceptable cinematic degree, No matter how you like your Batman. 3 cheers for Nolan….PLEASE keep up the good work…I have waited many years for a movie like this. Frankly I don’t care if you add Ace the Bat Hound in the next film, just give any character or plot-line the respect and consideration you have shown in the this film and I will always be on line on opening knight.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I agree with Bale, keep Robin out. Robin just does not work on the screen. I didn’t feel Robin even worked in the Animated series. Some comic book die-hards get upset when things in the movies are not exactly the way they are in the comic book. But the reality is that most comic book stories as is would not interest as wide an audience as a well translated comic book story. And, the point to these movies for the studio’s is to appeal to as large an audience as possible to make as much money as they can. The problem that often happens is that the translation is not very good. Batman Begins and the Dark Knight have been IMO excellent translations that try to stick with many of the comic book themes while appealing to a large audience.
With the feel and theme that Nolan has built up with these Batman movies, Robin would not fit in well. Plus on the big screen your limited to an extent on how long you can make movie before you lose people’s interest.. This means you need to start dividing the screen time between Batman and Robin while still trying to develop the main story behin the movie. Something will suffer, and usually it’s the story.
Besides, it would go against one of the themes from the Dark Knight, which is working toward not needing a masked hero at all. It doesn’t make sense to bring on another masked hero if you’re trying to work toward not having any at all.
By the way, Nightwing is what Robin called himself when he left Batman and went off on his own.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:58 pm
robin would definitaly work in a batman film but only if he was killed in the same film he was introduced in
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 am
Actually, you especially could not introduce and kill Robin in the same movie. One of the big reasons why Robin has failed in the past is because there is no real character development and his character is rushed into the movie in an unbelievable fashion.
For the sake of argument lets say a movie is 2.5 hours long (people do not want to sit through much more than this for a comic book movie). Just one of the reasons why Nolan’s Batman is so popular is because he explains everything in detail and does it in a way that seems like it has some basis in reality.
So, if Nolan sticks with his typical style then that means you would have to spend a minimum of an hour for a background story (the way he did with Bruce Wayne’s character), plus you would have spend a fair amount of time integrating the Dick Gracen character into the Batman world without him being Robin until at the earliest the end of the movie. To have that kind of integration and still tell a good story would be difficult. And on top of this, if you decide to kill him off in the same movie then if you’re lucky you would have him as Robin for maybe one scene, which would just leave people wondering why you would introduce him at all. As a result the rest of the story would most likely be so so at best. Additionally, you would also throw off the momentum of the current films. The last thing I could see Nolan wanting to do is having to downshift to introduce an uncessary character such as Robin into the films, especially if he would just be killing him off in the end.
Bottom line; introducing Robin’s character into the movies does not bring any real value for the story and you take too big a chance of causing damage to what has been overall a great experience so far.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
i would just like 2 see Nightwing he used to be robin until batman pissed him off then he punched batman in the face n became a bad ass
July 24th, 2008 at 11:11 am
i mean if they do a sequel to the dark knight whcih im sure they will, i think that robin should be portrayed into a diffretn type of angle..I mean giving him the corkey “didekick” act is uslesss..
This new genertaion of bateman should reflect eavily on it’s characters..
July 25th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I wonder if Nolan and Bale are reading this…
July 25th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Chaos Portal,,,,
Nolans prob reading the specs on his new mansion in the Swiss Alps, and Bales more than likey reading the 25th rewrite of T4, and thinking “WTF ??? Am I doing on this crap film”.
I would say that somewhere deep at WB, some lowly production assisitant is reading this page and taking notes. ;+)
July 25th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
u no, i think if they bring in robin at the end of the 3rd movie but change him from the adem west version to the ass kicking bale version but still a little comedy then i think that could work.
after all nolan will give us all a good show.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I really think Robin is important to the series of Batman
The purpose of Robin is because he sorta Bruce’s good side. He stops Batman from doing the wrong things. The only reason Robin hasn’t worked is because his old in all the versions on screen which should of meant he would be Nightwing at the time. If they took in a orphan, just a kid, they would the fatherly side of Bruce, and Bruce/ Batman would be a mentor instead of having Robin as a sidekick.
As well, if nobody really noticed, Batgirl has already been inserted into the Dark Knight. Her character anyways. In the comics, she is the daughter of Gordon and we see her during the scene with harvey two-face at the end of the movie.
judging by her age in The Dark Knight, she is REALLY YOUNG. and Batgirl is suppose to be the same age as Robin/ Dick Grayson because they eventually go out. So what that means that Robin wouldn’t be able to be shown in movies by Nolan for a LONG time, because at this moment, Robin would only be about 4-6 years old, like Gordon’s daugther..
July 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I agree about Robin. Look what happened when Chris O’Donnell was hired to play Robin in the last set of films. He was played as a cocky little brat who was a liability, not an asset to Batman. I liked Burt Ward’s Robin better than Chris O’Donnell’s version. At least Burt’s version never argued with Batman.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
My belief is John Fiorella will get his shot at the directors chair for Batman after Chris Nolan completes his trilogy. If you have not seen the Grayson trailer from 2004 check it out at http://www.untamedcinema.com If Robin is ever to be brought back to the big screen this is how it will happen.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I think that Nolan could make a dark robin… in which batman tries to train him but robin ends up an enemy (like the resurrected Jason Todd). Maybe not even call him robin haha.
However, I do like the idea of keeping Batman the sole focus in these movies. I’m just saying I don’t think it’s out of TDK crew’s ability to make a Robin backstory that people would enjoy…
July 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Though they probably will not be, hopefully WB is smart enough to stop the Batman movies when Nolan’s trilogy is done. History has shown us studios don’t know how to stop when they are ahead with sequels. Especially, when changing directors and most likely actors. The current main actors are only under contract for three movies.
WB should stop these Batman movies after the third one so that they can go down as one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. If they continue then inevitably the series will go down hill and the existing movies will not remain as highly regarded.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I agree with Wj, gordon son had way to much camera time in the movie not to play an important role in the third, although i think he is only 10 or 11. He might not play a major role in the third but i think he will be introduced. And who knows maybe after the batman trilogy there is the robin trilogy???