Zack Snyder on how Robin’s fate helped to shape Ben Affleck’s Batman

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Many of you have already been to see BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE by now and have no doubt spent the past week discussing each and every detail about the film. Although this was something which we were aware of before the film was released, one small sequence of BATMAN V SUPERMAN revealed that Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) keeps the costume of his former partner displayed in the Batcave, complete with graffiti courtesy of the Joker. While speaking with IGN, director Zack Snyder commented on his decision to kill off the character and the significance that event had on Ben Affleck's Batman.

In my mind, it was that Robin had died 10 years earlier, during some run in with a young Joker (Jared Leto). To me, it was a fun backstory there to play with. The whole idea was that there had been loss and sacrifice. In a weird way, he scarified everything to be Batman, right? He doesn’t really have a life outside of the cave. I thought by including Robin — a dead Robin — it would help us understand he’s been on quite a little journey.

Given that Ben Affleck's Batman will be making several more appearances in the DCEU, including both parts of JUSTICE LEAGUE as well as a potential solo Batman flick, it's entirely possible that we may yet witness this transformative event in Batman's history. Snyder's comments also seem to clear up a fan theory which has been making the rounds lately, one which postulated that Robin didn't actually die, but instead became the Joker.

BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is currently playing in theaters and, if you haven't already, make sure to let us know what you thought of the film!