C'mon Hollywood #167

… leave Robin out of Batman!
by Sturdy

I’ve read rumors that the third Nolan-directed Batman film might introduce Bats’ trusty sidekick Robin. I don’t know if this is true or not, or how much of a role Robin would play in the film, but I want to go on record now as saying I think it’s a horrible idea. Again, I have no idea what Nolan has planned and common sense says trust the guy to do whatever he wants, but I just can’t see any way the character of Robin would work in Nolan’s Gotham City.

I really don’t think it worked in the comics either

For starters, I don’t think the character of Robin has ever worked, whether it be on film, TV or in the comics. He’s always seemed a little awkward and annoying. I guess you could make an argument for the old Batman TV show, but that was a different time and a much different type of Batman. Obviously, the Schumacher Robin was horrible. I think when you get into the comics, Robin changes the tone and feel of the story. For some reason, I can’t take Batman as seriously when he has Robin around. Let’s face it; Robin is not a cool character. Even if you go with a darker version of Robin, he’s still just a boy gymnast that likes to wear tights.

This isn’t exactly the same Batman

If I told you a story about a handsome, young, boy gymnast that moved in with an attractive, wealthy, single, older man, what would be the first thing you would assume? Exactly. That’s kind of my point when it comes to Batman and Robin. Their connection always feels forced and slightly homoerotic. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I just don’t want that in Nolan’s Batman. That’s better left to a different type of movie in a completely different type of genre. Maybe one of those you would have to order under a fake name.

Sometimes one picture says it all.

I would venture to say that if you got together all of today’s best writers and filmmakers and locked them in a room, they wouldn’t be able to come up with a Robin storyline that worked. The only possibility I could see is if you started from scratch with the two characters and began a whole new franchise. I think you’d have to create a separate world and have a completely different Batman. Nolan has crafted such an amazing character with his Batman that I just can’t see him being able to add Robin into the fold without ruining what he’s created.

He’s too good of a character to have Robin come in now

I would love to hear a scenario in which this would work because I can’t come up with anything. Maybe, and I mean maybe with Bruce Wayne going to the circus in the very last scene of the third film. That could possibly work, but definitely not in a major role. Nolan has denied Robin will make an appearance, but rumors are popping up and that has me worried. Lets allow BATMAN AND ROBIN to be the last time we see Robin on film.

Source: Joblo.com's Cool Columns