5 Things The New Batman Film Series Should Do Differently

By Matt Martindale /

3. Robin

Robin is one of the most recognisable sidekicks in all of literature. He is to Batman, what Watson is to Sherlock Holmes; they are intrinsically linked in the public€™s psyche. This is what makes the characters big screen treatment so frustrating. Robin was originally meant to be in Tim Burton€™s Batman but was cut from the final script; he would eventually arrive in the form of Chris O€™Donnell€™s Dick Grayson in Batman Forever and its sequel Batman and Robin. The Nolan trilogy not surprisingly avoided the character for the majority of the series- that was until John Blake€™s real first name was revealed at the end of The Dark Knight Rises. This version of the character was seemingly an amalgam of the three traditional Robin€™s. Regardless of your opinion of O€™Donnell and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one thing is certain; both are rather too manly to be the Boy Wonder. I understand the concern about the character, the possibility that Robin just doesn€™t fit in. In the case of Nolan€™s movies I would agree, there is no justifiable way for that version of Batman to be running around with a child, but that is where I draw the line. In a less grounded universe, Schumacher€™s included; I see no reason why a traditional version of Robin can€™t work. A billionaire run€™s around dressed as a bat and fights homicidal clowns with the aid of vehicles and gadgets that would make 007 jealous. So that€™s all fine, but having a kid sidekick is going too far? No way- it€™s a cop out. It€™s about damn time that Batman has a real Robin, preferably Dick Grayson. I accept that having Robin run around as a nine year old vigilante might not work, but why not introduce him at that age and set him up for the role a few years down the line? Whether they use the backstory of Dick, Jason Todd or Tim Drake, the character could be introduced as a preteen that Bruce takes in during his first solo movie. Then by the time of the sequel the character and actor will likely be a teenager and should then take up the mantle of Robin. In a perfect world critical and commercial reception-as well as great casting- will allow the series to continue for years to come, thus providing the opportunity to show Dick€™s transition from The Boy Wonder to Nightwing.