The DCEU has been a bit of a mixed bag lately, however with the release of The Flash and Batgirl coming up, the Bat Family is growing in DC’s Extended Universe. A set photo has recently revealed that Batman’s famous sidekick Robin exists within the DCEU. Many are speculating that this reveal will set up Dick Grayson’s Nightwing and eventually lead to his own solo movie.
However, the question remains as to which actor should portray the leader of the Teen Titans and protector of Blüdhaven. There have been many actors considered for the role in fan casts, making it difficult to narrow down to just five. The five actors presented in the list would all make excellent versions of the popular character and former Robin.
Dylan O’Brien
Dylan O’Brien has often been a popular choice for the character of Dick Grayson. The young star’s career kicked off with the successful series Teen Wolf and he has been the focus of a number of films, including the Maze Runner series. O’Brien has showcased he has the ability to both portray drama and comedy very successfully and has leading man abilities.
The actor could certainly hold his own in the role as Dick Grayson and physically looks a lot like the comic counterpart as well. This casting would be something that would please a lot of fans and give the character a long life in the DCEU under a young and talented actor.
Timothée Chalamet
Depending on the age the DCEU decides to make their Nightwing, Timothée Chalamet could potentially make for a good version of Dick Grayson who has only just become Nightwing. Going this route with Dick Grayson would allow the film to explore the character separating from Batman and becoming his own hero, with Timothée Chalamet being the perfect actor to portray this.
As shown in Dune, Chalamet has shown his capabilities to portray a character with immense responsibility on their shoulders that is still learning to come into their own. Dick Grayson is much like this, as he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders as he breaks away from Batman and becomes a hero in his own city. Chalamet has also become a popular name in the industry lately and would help bring some additional viewers to a potential film.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
An interesting choice that fans have wanted to see don the Nightwing outfit is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The fan yearning to see Gordon-Levitt in the role stems from his appearance in The Dark Knight Trilogy. Gordon-Levitt plays John Blake, whose legal name is Robin John Blake in The Dark Knight Rises, an obvious homage to Batman’s sidekick.
It may seem odd to bring in Gordon-Levitt to the DCEU as Dick Grayson, however The Flash film has made it so the multiverse potentially exists meaning that both Gordon-Levitt’s DCEU take on Grayson and his character in The Dark Knight Rises could exist and not cause confusion amongst fans. This is something that fans would love to see, although it seems unlikely to occur.
Steven Yeun
Another excellent choice would be Steven Yeun, who has already lent his talents to various major pop culture franchises. Yeun became renowned for his excellent run on AMC’s The Walking Dead as fan favourite character Glenn and has had successful roles in the Minari and voicing the titular character in Invincible. Yeun would make for an interesting choice for Nightwing and has been another actor who has been fan cast as the character over the years.
He has shown great talent as an Oscar nominated actor and experience as a superhero by voicing Invincible. His experiences on that series and his multiple projects showcase he can play emotional roles and can be a comedic actor, all the traits that fit Dick Grayson. Yeun would be a terrific pick and one that many fans would enjoy.
Rami Malek
If the DCEU is looking to bring a big actor to the character, there is not many better options than Rami Malek. Malek has rose to stardom and is known for his roles in Mr Robot and Bohemian Rhapsody, with the actor having an Academy Award for best actor to his name for his outing as Freddie Mercury. He would be the perfect fit for the role of Grayson and has the look and acting chops to bring the character justice in the DCEU.
Malek could bring a seasoned Nightwing justice, and portray a character that has already had his falling out with Batman and has been operating as his own hero for quite some time. DC would be smart to get the actor on board for a role before Marvel scopes him up, and Dick Grayson would fit the actor perfectly.
Who would you cast as Nightwing in the DCEU? Let us know in the comments below or over on social media @GeeksGonnaGeek. As always, thanks for reading.
How about Brenton Thwaites??
He plays Nightwing in the Titans Series, and is perfect for the role!