One Major Hint Robin WILL Appear In The Batman

Are we about to see the Boy Wonder on the big screen again?

A recent selection of urgent casting calls released by The Casting Collective contain some indicative details for a “Major Action Film” in the works. The project is planned to be filmed in Liverpool and London, in early to mid-2020. One ad, aiming for actors in North West England, drew particular attention. It called for actors with circus skills, “Specifically fire dancers, fire breathers, puppet operators or any other circus skills.”

Given that Matt Reeves' The Batman - which is currently filming in London - is rumoured to be also filming in Glasgow and Liverpool as part of its production should prick up some ears. Particularly as those circus skills could point to something very exciting.

The peculiar requirements for this role make it reasonable to believe that the film in question is in fact Matt Reeves’ The Batman. If so, the circus-based roles would most likely be extras for Haly’s Circus. This was, of course, the iconic starting point for Dick Grayson, otherwise known as the first Robin. A similar advert on the same page, calling for “Real and Ex-Real Police Officers” supports the theory of this production being part of the Batman franchise.

As is well established in the mythos, the Boy Wonder began in life as a trapeze artist at Haly’s with his parents, the three performers together forming the troupe The Flying Graysons. However, after their death at the hands of organized criminals, Grayson was adopted by altruistic billionaire Bruce Wayne. Upon learning of his guardian’s crime-fighting persona, he became a valuable sidekick, using his impressive acrobatic skills and physical prowess to serve justice in Gotham.

If this Haly’s Circus casting theory proves valid, it begs the question of which comic book arc Reeves’s film will follow. Early speculation was that it would adapt the iconic “Long Halloween” storyline, depicting a more overt detective plot than recent Batman films have. But this casting detail may instead reveal a Robin origin story, or at least the background to Robin's story coming as part of a sequel, which may be more likely at this stage.

The last on-screen sort of portrayal of this character was by Joseph-Gordon Levitt in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, although this was hardly an accurate comic-accurate representation. Prior to that, we had Chris O'Donnell's bratty version - who veered closer to an iteration of Night Wing - in Joel Schumacher's films, which were supposed to culminate in his own spin-off.

And he wasn't even the first Robin cast, as Marlon Wayans was initially supposed to be part of Tim Burton's movies before plans changed and he was paid off.

The reboot, starring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader, has long been in development. This will mark the first solo Batman film produced in almost a decade (since The Dark Knight Rises), and the third actor to don the cape and cowl in as many years. Earlier this week, DC released a brief clip of Pattinson wearing his Batsuit.

The dramatic, red-tinted recording emphasized the metallic bat symbol on his chest, and the sleeker cowl, with less prominent ears than previous renditions of the character’s outfit.

The film is set to be released on 25 June 2021.