The DC Extended Universe is only a couple of weeks away from making its theatrical return with Matt Reeves' The Batman, a film that's building significant excitement already. Leading actor Robert Pattinson is taking the opportunity to hint at his potential future with Warner Bros' new Caped Crusader, while also teasing what fans should be looking forward to in the present.
Even though The Batman is still a little time away from making its full debut, Pattinson and director Matt Reeves are already looking ahead to what their Bruce Wayne could encounter down the road.
Pattinson has already planned out what could happen in his second and third solo movies, although those plans likely won't be nailed down for quite some time in reality. Reeves even recently hinted that Batman could find himself face-to-face with more fantastical villains like Mr. Freeze after this first round against the Riddler and the Penguin.
Sequels have the opportunity to explore other important characters on the hero's side of the fight too, possibly even Batman's trusty sidekick Robin. Recently, Pattinson teased his own ideas for how to get the character into the DCEU, although part of it certainly wasn't completely serious.
Pattinson Jokes about Teenage Robin in DCEU
Speaking at a special panel event in Los Angeles, The Batman star Robert Pattinson joked about the idea of needing a 13-year-old Robin in a potential sequel if Robin makes his debut.
When asked about the prospects of Batman's trusty sidekick showing up in future movies, Pattinson comically set the character's age range into stone before expanding on the idea as a real possibility. He even hinted that some fans are "so scared" of the idea of having Robin in the plan, but he confirmed that he loves the idea of a potential addition down the road:
“Yeah, but he has to be 13. That’s the only way I’ll accept it. No, I love Death in the Family and stuff, but I think it’d be so cool. Also people are so scared of it, but it’s kind of exciting. I think it would be a really fun addition.”
Director Matt Reeves also agreed with Pattinson on both fronts, noting that it could be a scary prospect but that they "should at least try" to do it right.
Will Robin Come to the DCEU?
Almost no hero/sidekick duo is more well-known than Batman and Robin, with the two characters having boasted a partnership for the better part of 80 years. Robin's time in live-action storytelling has been less fruitful, however, with the character not even having been a part of most of Batman's movies in the 21st century.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hinted at a Robin that was killed in action off-camera, while Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises only gave Joseph Gordon-Levitt's John Blake the Robin moniker in its final moments. Chris O'Donnell played the last true version of Robin on the big screen, but it's been a full quarter-century since his last portrayal in Batman & Robin.
With a growing number of obstacles and villains in front of Robert Pattinson's Batman in his first movie alone, some version of Robin certainly wouldn't hurt for him to have as backup.
There are a number of Robin-centric stories that could be adapted into live-action, especially with Pattinson's Batman still being in Year One during his first solo movie. No matter which story Reeves and Pattinson want to explore, it's clear that they want to ensure it's put to screen the right way for a superhero movie fan base that's expecting big things from such a well-known hero.
The Batman will release in theaters on March 4, 2022.
