Warner Bros. is Developing a Nightwing Movie with Lego Batman Director

Lego Batman director Chris McKay is currently in talks with Warner Bros. to direct a live-action Nightwing movie, according to THR.

To be scripted by The Accountant’s Bill Dubuque, the prospective film has no targeted release window as of yet. Nightwing’s alter ego, Dick Grayson (whom you might better know as the original Robin), already appeared in McKay’s most recent film, albeit much younger and in toy form. However, unlike in Lego Batman, it’s doubtful someone like Michael Cera would take on the role of Bruce Wayne’s aforementioned ward.

Any incarnation of Grayson, Nightwing or any of the many Robins has yet to be seen in the current on-screen DC universe, though a Joker-graffitied empty costume was spotlighted in the Batcave in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, suggesting at least one of the Boy Wonders was killed by the clown prince of crime. If the comics serve as any inspiration here, that dead (“dead” being a relative term in most comic books) Robin will likely turn out to be the sidekick’s second alter ego, Jason Todd, who later was brought back to life as anti-hero Red Hood.

McKay’s Nightwing movie is still a long ways off, considering that there are at least six or seven DCEU (short for DC Extended Universe, for some reason) films already scheduled ahead of it. That being said, Nightwing is known for his humor, as opposed to his caped former mentor, which the studio might find appealing. The already-floated notion that Warner Bros. is trying to inject a bit more levity into this way-too-fucking-dour cinematic universe isn’t far-fetched at all when one considers the lighter, Marvel-esque tone of last summer’s Justice League trailer and the comedy-heavy reshoots that last August’s (still bad) Suicide Squad supposedly had to undergo.

Next up for the DCEU are June’s Wonder Woman and November’s Justice League, followed by Aquaman late next year and The Flash, though that last project is currently being re-rewritten by Joby Harold. Films like Shazam and Green Lantern Corps are slated for further after that but, you know, we’ll believe that when we see it. For a look at what’s coming next for the flailing mess that is DC’s cinematic universe, take a look at the Wonder Woman trailer below.