‘Nightwing’ Director Asks a Surprisingly Good Question

Although the future of the DC Cinematic Universe always feels like it’s somewhat up in the air, Warner Bros. appears to be moving forward with a Nightwing movie. The film, which will follow Dick Grayson, the first Robin to fight alongside the Dark Knight, is set to be directed by Lego Batman’s Chris McKay, and he’s asking some interesting questions about what fans want from the acrobatic hero.



On Thursday night, McKay tweeted a poll asking fans what the most important quality they would look for in an actor if they were casting somebody to play Nightwing. In just over 12 hours, more than 60,000 people voted in the poll.



The options were “recognizable movie star,” “a badass martial artist,” Romani,” and “vulnerable, emotional.” At the time this article was published, “a badass martial artist” was solidly in first place, with almost half of the total votes. “Vulnerable, emotional” was in second place.





Chris McKay

@buddboetticher

If YOU were to cast NIGHTWING, what is the most important quality you would you look for in actor:



1:26 PM - Feb 9, 2018

Recognizable movie star

A badass martial artist

Romani

Vulnerable, emotional

Vote

122,023 votes • 1 day left

3,458

3,840 people are talking about this


That’s a good sign, as is seems to suggest that fans (and McKay) are more interested in focusing on Nightwing’s acrobatics and emotional depth rather than just star power. However, casual fans might be a little confused by the presence of the third option, “Romani.” Although Dick was a generic, unspecified and presumably “white” hero in his debut in 1940’s Detective Comics #38. However, Gotham Knights #20 in 2001, writer Devin Grayson revealed that Nightwing was part Romani, a nomadic, often-persecuted ethnic group in central Europe.



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“I didn’t change his ethnicity from one thing to another, he had no ethnicity,” Grayson explained in a book about the history of the character. “The truth is, we never talk about that stuff, we just make assumptions, and in this case those assumptions are based on a really boring, banal, and in many ways harmful representation of America.”



This aspect of Nightwing’s character has never made it to the screen before, and it’s not usually not depicted or addressed in the comics, but Batman writer Tom King confirmed that his Romani roots were canon, writing on Twitter that, “yes, that heritage is essential to who Dick is” in 2015.



So, we’ll see if Warner Bros. ends up casting an actor of Romani descent to play Nightwing, rather than whitewashing this admittedly unpublicized aspect of his character. At the very least, though, it’s great to see that McKay’s asking the question.



However, that’s not all progressive DC fans want from Nightwing. One reply to the poll suggested a fifth quality to look for in a potential actor:



“His ability to act alongside a disabled actress?” Twitter user @dinahsoracle replied. “Or am i being /too/ hopeful. ”



If the “oracle” in the Twitter handle didn’t tip you off, the question was an allusion to Barbara Gordon’s identity as Oracle, her superhero identity during the decades she spent in a wheelchair. The “New 52” reboot changed DC canon, making it so that Barbara was no longer paralyzed, but there are many fans who miss the representation Oracle offered as a disabled hero. And, there are fans who miss Oracle and Nightwing’s romantic relationship. Could any of that be in store for Nightwing?



“I love you so much,” is all McKay responded.


The Nightwing movie does not have a release date yet, though there is reportedly a big update on its status coming later this month.

Colton Haynes may be teasing a jump from the small screen to the big screen, as the actor has sent out some cryptic tweets about Nightwing, one of DC’s most hotly anticipated upcoming films.



After coming to prominence on Teen Wolf, Haynes took on the role of Roy Harper on The CW’s Arrow, playing Thea Queen’s love interest and Green Arrow’s sidekick, Arsenal. Since departing Arrow at the end of the show’s third season, Haynes’ career has flourished, with well received turns on TV series such as American Horror Story: Cult, The Grinder, and Scream Queens, as well as on the big screen in Rough Night and San Andreas, in which he starred alongside future DCEU star Dwayne Johnson, who will be portraying Black Adam. Now, it seems Haynes may be hinting at his own entry into the DCEU.



RELATED: NIGHTWING DIRECTOR ASKS FANS FOR HELP PICKING A PERFECT ACTOR



A pair of cryptic tweets suggest Haynes may be up for the role of Dick Grayson in director Chris McKay’s live action Nightwing film. Check out the tweets below.





Colton Haynes

✔

@coltonlhaynes

#Nightwing 🤗🤗🤗



11:23 AM - Feb 11, 2018

5,086

947 people are talking about this

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Colton Haynes

✔

@coltonlhaynes

This is gonna be a great year 🤗🤗🤗



11:24 AM - Feb 11, 2018

3,015

452 people are talking about this

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Obviously, these are intentionally vague tweets. It’s possible Haynes is hinting at a Nightwing presence in the Arrowverse; he’s no longer a regular, but still pops up for the occasional guest appearance on Arrow. He could also conceivably be involved in an animated project as the character.



But the most obvious – and certainly most exciting – takeaway is that he’s up for the role as the DCEU’s live-action Dick Grayson. It would make a tremendous amount of sense; Haynes not only looks the part but is also a rising star with a devoted fan base and the right kind of charm to give cinematic life to Batman’s former sidekick. McKay has recently suggested a casting announcement for Nightwing isn’t imminent, but that could always be misdirection.



Of the seemingly endless number of DCEU films in some stage of development, Nightwing is one that comic book fans are clamoring for, and McKay is looking to bring a comic accurate version of the character onto the big screen in the near future. McKay’s The Lego Batman Movie proved that he has an intrinsic understanding of Grayson, as well as a razor sharp sense of humor, and that can only bode well for the film. Haynes has shown he has the chops to fully embody that sort of warm, earnest do-gooder who can still laugh at the absurdity of his own existence. If he really is playing Nightwing, it’s a safe bet excitement for the film will jump to an even higher level.