The DCU’s first Batman movie with The Brave and the Bold is still years away, though some recent comments from James Gunn support a potential Robin switch. Although Brave and the Bold was first announced with Damian Wayne as Batman’s Boy Wonder, there’s plenty of time to pivot.
In the original DC Comics, Batman’s greater Bat-Family of allies is quite vast. This includes his various Robins over the years, culminating with his biological son Damian Wayne, the current Robin on the page.
However, there’s an argument to be made that debuting the DCU’s Batman with Damian’s Robin might be leaving peak stories on the table, something DC Studios could very well be thinking about following some comments from James Gunn.
Things Are Still “In Flux” For The DCU’s Brave and the Bold Batman Movie
In late 2025, James Gunn gave an intriguing Brave and the Bold update, hinting that some things may be changing in terms of Batman’s age and whether he’ll already have Damian by his side in his upcoming DCU debut:
James Gunn: “Some things have changed. Plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff, so I wouldn’t take any of it – I think you’ll have to wait to see exactly what’s happening.”
Following Gunn’s interview with IGN and his particular phrasing about Batman and his parentage, many fans have taken this to mean that Damian might not necessarily be Batman’s Robin in The Brave and the Bold, despite what had been previously announced.
Keeping that in mind, switching to a different Robin might not be a bad thing. With the film not expected until at least 2028 and arriving after Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II, there’s still plenty of runway to pivot to a different Boy Wonder (which would have more than a few benefits).
The DCU’s First Batman Movie Should Start With A Different Robin (Not Damian)
Although 2025’s Superman debuted a fairly established DCU that already feels lived-in, launching Batman’s story with Damian already by his side may be a step too far, leaving some truly great narrative beats from the comics on the table.
For example, starting instead with Jason Todd or Tim Drake’s Robin could unlock iconic arcs like Death in the Family (Jason’s murder at the hands of the Joker) or even a greater detective-driven Dynamic Duo with Bruce and Tim working side by side.
That said, Dick Grayson (Batman’s first Boy Wonder) should absolutely debut as Nightwing given how popular his post-Robin career is on the page.
In any event, delaying the debut of Damian would certainly allow for more exciting Robin stories to be told, rather than simply recalled via flashbacks and references. There could then be a more natural progression that builds to Damian’s Robin debut in the DCU over time.
Let us know in the comments what you think! Should Damian Wayne debut as DCU’s current Robin as planned, or should DC Studios make a pivot?
The Brave And The Bold is expected to release in 2028 from DC Studios.