The Ultimate Redemption: Why James Gunn's DCU Must Bring This Neglected Character to the Small Screen

Batman, a globally renowned superhero, is famous for his solo missions. However, die-hard fans know that even the most powerful hero sometimes receives significant help during his patrols in Gotham City, particularly from his sidekick, Robin, a role assumed by various individuals over the years. Among them, Dick Grayson, the first Robin who later became Nightwing, stands out the most. Beloved by comic book fans, especially for the recent successful run of Tom Taylor's Nightwing comic series, Nightwing's charismatic personality and relatable character would undoubtedly thrive in Gunn's DCU.

The DCEU has faced its fair share of challenges, including poor direction and a lack of clear vision. However, hope for change emerges as the DCEU evolves into the DCU under the esteemed director James Gunn, who now serves as the Co-CEO of DC Studios. If there is one thing fans desire, it is the prioritization of featuring this overlooked character on the grand screens of the newly established universe.

The First Boy Wonder

When it comes to Robin, there are many names that come to mind, such as Jason Todd, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, among others. Yet, none is as prominent as the original Boy Wonder, Dick Grayson. Dick was a member of the Flying Graysons, a family of trapeze artists who performed in a circus. Tragically, his parents were murdered, leaving him orphaned at the tender age of 8. Bruce, recognizing a reflection of himself in the young boy, took him under his wing and trained him to become his own protege.

However, as time went on, Dick and Batman faced challenges in their relationship, leading Bruce to ultimately dismiss Dick from the role of Robin. Embracing a new persona as Nightwing, Dick relocated to Blüdhaven, a crime-ridden city, where his main objective became bringing down the notorious crime boss known as Blockbuster. Despite their initial differences, Dick Grayson proved to possess striking similarities to Bruce Wayne in ways that he came to acknowledge. Batman himself acknowledged that Nightwing, Dick's new identity, embodied what Batman had always aspired to be. Unlike Batman, Nightwing wasn't solely driven by vengeance, and Bruce had taken him in as a child to prevent him from heading down a similar path.

Nightwing's History In Live-Action Series

Content: None of the Robins or Nightwing have appeared in the live-action DC universe so far. Despite this, Nightwing has been portrayed twice in live-action adaptations outside of the DCEU. One instance was a fan-made series called Nightwing: The Series, which premiered in 2014. This series followed the story of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy but in an alternate universe where Bane successfully kills Batman. Additionally, the series introduced the character of Red Hood, who is the second Robin seeking vengeance after being tragically killed by the Joker and later revived by the Lazarus Pit. While the fan-made series was generally well-received, it suffered from budget constraints due to its independent production.

Nightwing also appeared in 2018's Titans, where he and Raven formed their own superhero team, somewhat akin to the Justice League. However, the show received mixed reviews and a lukewarm response from fans. Recently, the series was canceled primarily due to the Warner Bros./Discovery merger.

Nightwing Will Already Be An Established Character In The Upcoming Batman Movie

James Gunn recently revealed that the DCEU will be reset into the DCU through The Flash, resulting in a timeline reset. The first chapter of the DCU, named "Gods and Monsters," was unveiled by the co-CEO. As part of this chapter, a movie titled Batman: The Brave and The Bold was announced, reintroducing Robin to the big screens. Surprisingly, the Robin in question is Damian Wayne, Bruce's own son with Talia al Ghul, who is the third Robin. Batman: The Brave and The Bold will showcase an older Batman in his 40s, drawing inspiration from the Grant Morrison comics.

Peter Safran mentioned that several members of the Bat Family will be featured in the upcoming film. It is highly likely that Dick Grayson, who would have transitioned into Nightwing by then, will make an appearance due to his significance. Although the cast for Batman: Brave and The Bold has not been finalized, James Gunn has previously shown interest in fan suggestions for the role of Nightwing on social media. The inclusion of Nightwing opens up the potential for the formation of the Titans within this universe.