Last week it was announced that director Chris McKay is set to follow-up his animated DC adventure The LEGO Batman Movie by making the jump to the live-action DC Extended Universe to bring Dick Grayson’s Nightwing to the big screen. And speaking to the Shanlian on Batman podcast (via Screen Rant), McKay has been chatting about the appeal of the character, and why he’s perfect for a solo movie.
“Bruce Wayne in my mind came from privilege and I think that’s why he’s more dour and angry,” said McKay. “He’s self-made as far as his becoming all of these cool things we like him for… Dick Grayson didn’t come from that. Dick Grayson came from a circus family. Essentially people who aren’t rich and they are self-made. They’re entertainers. They’re gymnasts. They’re people who live hand-to-mouth and that’s something that informs him and his attitude… he’s a fascinating guy to me, because he had all the same things happen to him. He’s got some of the same negatives as Bruce Wayne and then from a society standpoint — obviously he was adopted into Bruce Wayne’s life… but he didn’t start that way. He’s this guy who has all these negatives and then even more negatives and yet he remains… Those are things why I like Dick Grayson, why I like the idea of Nightwing as a movie.”
As yet, there’s no word on a potential release date for Nightwing, nor has there been any actors linked to the role of Dick Grayson. Expect that to change in the coming weeks once the rumour sites get their thinking caps on…
Originally published February 26, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
