Robin in other media
In addition to comic books, the superhero Robin also appears in other media, such as films, television and radio. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne are generally the versions of Robin chosen to be portrayed.
For decades, Robin rarely appeared without Batman. Now, he often appears as a member of variations of the Teen Titans. Furthermore, from the 1940s to 1980s, Dick Grayson was generally portrayed as being a teenager or adult.
Television
Live-action
BatmanIn the 1960s Batman television series and its 1966 movie offshoot, Robin was played by Burt Ward. Ward reprises his role as Robin in Legends of the Superheroes, and the Dick Grayson of Earth-66 in Crisis on Infinite Earths”.
played Robin in the 1966-1968 Batman TV series as well as a 1966 film of the same name
Titans
Dick Grayson
Actor Brenton Thwaites starred as Detective Richard "Dick" Grayson in the Titans'' web television series, debuting in the first episode. He is a circus acrobat, and along with his parents, a member of the "Flying Graysons". His parents are killed during a circus act by gangsters attempting to extort protection money from the circus. He is then taken in by Bruce Wayne/Batman and becomes his crime-fighting partner, Robin. However, he leaves his mentor's side after fearing that he was mirroring Bruce's worse qualities. Throughout the show's first season, he begins to lead a group consisting of other young heroes, including Beast Boy, Starfire, and Raven. In the first season's seventh episode, he burns his Robin costume and departs from the identity. However, Dick's time as Robin is continued to be shown through flashbacks.
Jason Todd
Actor Curran Walters portrays Jason Todd, the second Robin, debuting in the show's sixth episode. Like his comic-counterpart, Batman took him in while catching him attempting to steal the tires off the Batmobile. He is reckless and full of anger, acting on his own moral code and often operating on his own. He is shown to have been given much more liberties and authority as Batman's partner than Dick was. Todd made an uncredited appearance in “Crisis on Infinite Earths” where he and Hawk were witnessing the Antimatter wave approach and consume his home on Earth-9.
Animation
''Super Friends''
In DC Comics related cartoon series, produced by Filmation and Hanna-Barbera throughout the 1970s and 1980s, such as the Super Friends, Robin was voiced by Casey Kasem or Burt Ward. Both the live-action and animated versions wore the standard Robin costume, much like the film serial versions of the 1940s. He is not paired with Batman in the Cartoon Network programs Justice League and Justice League Unlimited due to the Bat-Embargo which limited the use of Batman-related characters from any media source outside of the new Batman Begins movie franchise and The Batman animated series.DC animated universe
The Dick Grayson version of Robin made his first appearance during the first season of , voiced by Loren Lester. The second season was known as The Adventures of Batman and Robin.The Tim Drake Robin appears as the second incarnation in The New Batman Adventures. Versions of the Carrie Kelley and 1950s Robins, both in the original costume, also make short appearances on the show in a dream sequence from the episode "Legends of the Dark Knight".
Tim Drake was voiced by Mathew Valencia in The New Batman Adventures, and by Eli Marienthal and Shane Sweet on Static Shock.
''Teen Titans''
The Cartoon Network series Teen Titans with one similarity is that the character Robin is the Teen Titan's leader. Robin joins Beast Boy, Cyborg, Raven and Starfire when Jump City is threatened by aliens in "Go!". Robin is generally respected by the others as the team's best leader, but on the inside he is driven by an unhealthy obsession to win, which sometimes alienates him from his teammates.In many instances, Robin's relationship to Batman is heavily referenced. In "Go", just before Robin attacks a thief, bats fly at him. After a while the thief says, "This isn't your town, aren't you supposed to be with..." only to be interrupted by Robin who says, "Just moved here. And from now on I work alone.", and throughout the episode, he says he doesn't want to be in a team again so soon. In "Haunted", Raven uses her powers to enter Robin's mind; one of the images she sees is Robin's shadow in a cave area swearing an oath to someone, and part of a circus ring with two figures falling. When Robin rejects Slade in "Apprentice: Part 2" as a father figure he mentions "I already have a father", and then the screen shows a shot of a dark sky with bats flying through it, also referring to Batman. In that same episode, a battle ensues on top of a building that says "WAYNE ENTERPRISES". In "The Quest", Robin says that he was trained by the best and this is believed to be a reference to the Batman.
Robin also has shown to have romantic feelings for Starfire since they first met. There have been romantic moments shared between the two in the series, but neither Robin nor Starfire admit their feelings for each other until the movie . During the film, Robin and Starfire come very close to admitting their feelings and having their first romantic kiss, but sadly Robin proves to be too focused on the mission before insisting that, as heroes, they can never be anything more. However, after the film's climax battle, Robin and Starfire finally admit their feelings for each other and share their first true romantic kiss with Cyborg commenting, "Well, it's about time!". In the end, they are both seen holding hands and finally become a romantic couple.
''The Batman''
The Dick Grayson version of Robin appeared in The Batman, voiced by Evan Sabara. In this version, Dick Grayson is an energetic, gifted 15-year old acrobat and one of the main attractions of Hayley's Circus, along with his parents, as part of the amazing Flying Grayson's act. His life was changed forever when Tony Zucco and his brothers tried to threaten Grayson's father into taking a "protection" policy. When the Graysons refused, an altercation resulted in the police and Batman being called. The Zuccos were easily defeated for the moment one of Tony's brothers was even captured.An angered Zucco altered the rigs on the Flying Graysons trapeze act, causing Dick's parents to fall to their deaths right in front of their son during a performance. With no surviving family members, Dick was taken in by Bruce Wayne as Bruce saw shades of himself in Dick after his own parents' murder. After Dick discovered that Wayne was Batman, the two worked together to capture Zucco. Dick chose the codename "Robin" because that is what his mother had called him.
As depicted in a possible future during the episode "Artifacts", Dick Grayson gives up the "Robin" name and costume to become Nightwing. Barbara and Batman still persist in calling him by his original codename. Batman did this more out of habit, and Barbara did it as a flirting sort of way to annoy Dick. The police department who discover the Batcave in the beginning of the episode call Robin as 'Red Robin', a reference to Kingdom Come, and they theorize that Bruce Wayne was Red Robin.
''Krypto the Superdog''
In the Krypto the Superdog episode, "Bathound and the Robin", a literal robin called Robbie is saved by Ace the Bathound and wants to be Ace's sidekick, much to the dismay of Ace. Robbie's costume resembled the classic outfit of Dick Grayson.''Batman: The Brave and the Bold''
Dick Grayson was featured in in the episode "The Color of Revenge!" He is depicted as the protector of Blüdhaven - the city where he fights crime in the comics as Nightwing - but he is seen in the episode still as Robin. The rift between him and Batman has already taken place, and he is seen to still be angry at Batman for still treating him as a sidekick rather than a superhero in his own right. It is only after cooperating with Batman to defeat Crazy Quilt that Robin earns Batman's respect. After Crazy Quilt is defeated, Robin joins Batman when Killer Moth hijacks the Gotham Bank Money Train, but he rides in the sidecar of Batman's motorcycle. Robin was voiced by Crawford Wilson, and the teaser episode has several references to the 1960s Batman television series. Subsequently, he is seen in "Sidekicks Assemble!" where he leads fellow sidekicks Speedy and Aqualad in a battle against Ra's al Ghul. At the end of the episode, he decides to step out of the shadow of his mentor and take the costume and identity of Nightwing. He is seen as Robin once again in the teaser for "Emperor Joker!", which shows a flashback to an earlier battle between the Dynamic Duo and Firefly. In "The Criss Cross Conspiracy!", Nightwing returns and a flashback shows him as Robin. Dick eventually becomes the new Batman in the alternate future story, "The Knights of Tomorrow!", with Damian Wayne acting as the new Robin. The episode ends with Damian succeeding Dick as the new Batman after the former retires, and Damian's unnamed son becomes the new Robin. Damian Wayne is voiced by both Patrick Cavanaugh and by Diedrich Bader. Later, in the opening for "Triumvirate of Terror" Robin was seen in the team of the Justice League International playing baseball against the Legion of Doom.''Young Justice''
Robin is one of the main cast members in the animated adaptation of Young Justice. The character is voiced by actor Jesse McCartney. Along with Aqualad, Kid Flash and Superboy, Robin is one of the founding members of Young Justice. However, when not on team missions, he still lives and performs his duties in Gotham City. As the most experienced member of the team, he assumed that he would automatically be the leader, but this would prove to not be the case. When in combat with Batman, their relationship is so defined that they do not need to communicate and Robin therefore assumed he could disappear and that others would immediately know what to do. Robin nominates Aqualad who accepts, saying that Robin will one day take over as he was born to lead the team. Throughout missions, Robin is shown to be the hacker of the group, making use of the computer interface on his wrist. As the youngest member of the team, he is still a bit immature and can often be heard laughing in combat as to either toy with or intimidate his opponents. He also questions the meaning of words, such as wondering why something is overwhelming, and not just "whelming".In Season 2, set five years later, Dick Grayson has become Nightwing. He still leads the Team and has been replaced as Robin by Tim Drake. During the episode “Satisfaction,” a memorial hologram of Jason Todd, the second Robin, can be seen.
The third season,, is set two years after the previous outing. Nightwing still plays a prominent role in the story. In addition, Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown play minor roles. There are also cameo appearances from Damian Wayne and a revived Jason Todd.
''New Teen Titans">DC Nation Shorts">New Teen Titans''
The Teen Titans iteration of Robin returns in the New Teen Titans shorts, with Scott Menville reprising his role. One of the shorts included an appearance by the DC One Million version of Robin.''Teen Titans Go!''
The Teen Titans iteration of Robin returns in Teen Titans Go! with Scott Menville reprising his role. In the show, Robin is portrayed as the self-appointed, hard-as-nails, hubristic, slightly power mad leader of the Teen Titans but fairly more light-hearted, and has a huge crush on Starfire but is too nervous to admit this, though he is also seen as being very arrogant, often depicting himself as the so-called "best superhero", believing that he is better than his friends and heroes should always put themselves in the spotlight and take all the glory. He is also a "sleep-Fighter", and is insecure about his lack of superpowers, which has, on multiple occasions, led to one of the other Titans committing mutiny and replacing Robin as leader. In some episodes, he is shown to fall into fits of madness easily, completely ignoring his team to follow through on his own view of how to carry something out. Such examples included continuing to dig an escape tunnel despite being rescued, forcing his teammates to rely on seven numbered options and scant resources during an educational 1800s-style road trip without even the slightest bit of concern for their well-being, and thinking that nature is so dangerous he needs to be on edge and eat whatever he can find. An episode also showed that he had a backup Robin squad which features Carrie Kelley, a darker Tim Drake, and the upbeat 60s version all voiced by Scott.Web series
The Damian Wayne incarnation of Robin appears in DC Universe's adult animated series Harley Quinn, voiced by Jacob Tremblay. He is portrayed as a spoiled brat who is not taken seriously by most individuals. In "Finding Mr. Right", in an effort to improve his reputation, he appears on a talk show and lies about Harley Quinn agreeing to be his arch-enemy. Offended, Harley kidnaps him and threatens to feed him to King Shark unless he confesses. Once he does, she reveals the talk show audience behind a curtain, humiliating him. However, Damian suffers a nosebleed, and King Shark goes berserk after smelling it. While he is saved by his father Batman, Joker temporarily kidnaps him before Batman saves him again. The dark knight later comforts Robin and assures him he can wait until he is ready for his own nemesis. In the season two premiere "New Gotham", Damian took up the mantle of Batman after he disappeared in the chaos caused by Joker's destruction of Gotham during the season one finale despite not being old enough to do so.Film
Live-action
''Batman''
In director Lambert Hillyer's 1943 film serial Batman, Robin was played by Douglas Croft. Croft was the only actor to portray Robin at the actual age of sixteen; subsequent live-action actors have either been in their early to late 20s.''Batman and Robin''
Robin was played by 26-year-old Johnny Duncan in Columbia Pictures' Batman and Robin, directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet.Live-action feature films
Burton-Schumacher series
Early concepts
Robin did not appear in the Tim Burton movies Batman and Batman Returns. This was an unusual move as the two 1940s serials as well as the 1966 movie and attendant TV show had presented the 'Dynamic Duo' as an inseparable pair, with the general public unaware that the comic-book incarnation of Batman often worked alone. The special edition version of the Batman DVD features an animated storyboard sequence of when Robin's parents are killed by the Joker. Jason Hillhouse provides the voice of Dick Grayson, while Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their respective roles as Batman and the Joker in the storyboard sequence. Burton planned to cast Northern Irish actor Ricky Addison Reed as Robin, but later felt it was unimportant to the story and cut Robin out altogether. At one point, the studio offered the part to Kiefer Sutherland, then 19, but the actor was unaware of Burton's style and direction of the film and eventually declined; in a later interview, Sutherland would later express regret years later. In an earlier script of Batman Returns, he was portrayed as a technologically savvy street kid who would help Batman following his narrow escape when The Penguin tried to kill him. He would later play a crucial role in Batman's final confrontation with The Penguin. In that script, he was simply called Robin, has no known real name, and was to be played by Marlon Wayans.''Batman Forever''
Wayans was considered for the role of Robin in Batman Forever, but the change in directors from Burton to Joel Schumacher would also mean a change in the choice of actor for the role of Robin. Chris O'Donnell played the character of Dick Grayson in the film, alongside Val Kilmer in the role of Batman. Dick Grayson's parents and older brother were murdered by Two-Face during a hostage situation at the annual Gotham Circus after the family helps get rid of a bomb rigged to explode. Bruce Wayne takes him in as his ward out of guilt for being unable to save Dick's family. Dick soon finds out that Bruce is Batman and becomes a costumed hero in his late teens. His costume closely resembles the Robin uniform worn by Tim Drake and the Robin costume from Batman: The Animated Series. However, Robin's classic costume appears as Grayson's circus uniform, sans the "R" symbol and face mask.''Batman & Robin''
O'Donnell reprised the role in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, this time opposite George Clooney as Batman. Tension between Batman and Robin is present in the film due to Robin growing tired of playing second fiddle to Batman and desiring to break free from Batman's shadow, particularly after Robin's recklessness leads to him getting frozen by Mr. Freeze. These feelings are later amplified when Poison Ivy exposes Robin to her pheromone dust and causes him to fall in love with her, sowing seeds of doubt regarding Batman's faith in his ward. In the film's climax, Robin eventually sees through Ivy's schemes and makes amends with Batman, and throughout the film, it is hinted that he harbours romantic feelings towards Alfred's niece, Barbara Wilson, who later becomes Batgirl. His costume is a blue rubber suit with a red bird symbol on the chest. He also wears a silvery Arctic version of his Robin costume.Cancelled ''Robin'' spin-off
Chris O'Donnell revealed to Access Hollywood that a Robin spin-off was planned but got scrapped after Batman & Robin.Christopher Nolan's ''The Dark Knight Trilogy''
In a June 2005 interview, Christopher Nolan, the director of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, said that as long as he was directing the franchise, Robin would not be appearing. Since Christian Bale was portraying Batman as a young man at the time of "", Dick Grayson was still a child at that point. Bale has also given the same opinion regarding Robin, even though his favorite Batman story, , focuses on Robin's origin.''The Dark Knight Rises''
In the film The Dark Knight Rises, Batman finds an ally in a young policeman who goes by the name of John Blake, an original character created exclusively for the film. The character is Christopher Nolan's interpretation/re-imagining of several incarnations of Robin. Like Dick Grayson, Blake is an orphan who suffered the loss of both his parents at a young age, and like Tim Drake, he discovers that Bruce Wayne is Batman on his own.Blake is an orphan whose mother was killed in a car crash and whose father was murdered in a gambling related dispute when Blake was still a child. He was raised in St. Swithin's, an orphanage sponsored by the Wayne Foundation. He also develops a great admiration towards Batman. During his time there, he learned to hide his anger over his parents' deaths. When Bruce Wayne visited the orphanage, Blake noticed similar qualities between himself and Bruce, and single-handedly deduced that Bruce is Batman. When he was old enough, he became a police officer, and eventually befriends Batman's ally Commissioner James Gordon.
After the discovery of Bane, Blake confronts Bruce and convinces him to return as Batman. When Bane publicly declares himself, Blake takes Gordon into hiding and arrests Selina Kyle to question her about Bruce's disappearance. He also shows his repulsion towards Gordon and Batman covering up the crimes of Harvey Dent. Blake joins Gordon and the other cops in a revolt against Bane's rule, but is caught and nearly executed. He's rescued by Batman, who tells him to evacuate the city. This attempt fails when external officers blow up the only bridge leading away from Gotham out of fear, since Bane had threatened earlier to have the bomb detonated if anyone tried to leave Gotham.
After Batman apparently sacrifices himself to save the city, Blake quits the GCPD, disgusted that the mainland police were willing to let Gotham perish. He attends Bruce's funeral with Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, and Lucius Fox. He later attends the reading of Bruce's will, and is pleasantly surprised to discover that Wayne Manor will become a home for the city's at-risk orphans, named in honor of Thomas and Martha Wayne. When he gives the name "Blake, John" to a clerk holding a package that Bruce had left him, he is told there is nothing there for him. He hands over an ID and suggests they try his legal name, which is revealed to be Robin. The clerk gives him GPS coordinates and spelunking gear, before she tells him that he should use the name "Robin" more often. At the end of the film, Blake follows the coordinates, and finds the Batcave.
Gordon-Levitt has stated that the ending of The Dark Knight Rises is not a set up for a spin-off film and is the true conclusion of Christopher Nolan's Batman series.
DC Extended Universe
''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice''
Jason Todd is confirmed to exist and is currently deceased in the DC Extended Universe, with his suit covered in Joker graffiti making its first appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Director Zack Snyder later confirmed Robin was killed ten years before the movie by a younger Joker, and the scene illustrated the sacrifices Bruce Wayne endured to be the vigilante and his willingness to face his past mistakes. Snyder later claimed that the Robin that was killed by the Joker was actually Dick Grayson, though that may not be canon anymore. Following a behind-the-scenes video was released for the DC Extended Universe, it is revealed the suit did indeed belong to Jason Todd who was killed by the Joker before the events of the film, and is labeled as such at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.''Suicide Squad''
In Suicide Squad, it is revealed Harley Quinn was an accomplice to Robin's murder, something that wasn't present in the "" storyline as Quinn was not yet created. Director David Ayer later clarified that the Joker was indeed the person who killed Robin.Animation
''Justice League: The New Frontier''
Robin was featured in the DC DTV movie , where he was adopted, as a teenager, during the events of the movie. Batman did so because he realized that he was frightening those he was trying to protect. The circumstances of his adoption are not explained. He was voiced by Shane Haboucha.''Batman: Under the Red Hood''
In the DC Universe Animated Original Movie , an adaptation of the bestselling Batman storyline "Under the Hood" from Batman #635-650 and Batman Annual #25, Neil Patrick Harris voices Dick Grayson/Nightwing while Jensen Ackles portrays Jason Todd/Red Hood. Vincent Martella and his younger brother Alexander Martella each provide the voice of the young Jason Todd in different ages as Robin in a flashback in the beginning of the film.''Batman: The Dark Knight Returns''
Carrie Kelly appears as Robin in the two-part animated film , voiced by Ariel Winter. Being a fan of Batman, Carrie took the mantle of Robin herself when the Mutant crime organization had been wreaking havoc on Gotham. Batman comes to see her as a suitable Robin, training her and using her to gather intel. She helps him with leading the former Mutant's group Sons of Batman into learning his less violent ways, when Gotham needed martial law enforced. When Batman is called out to a duel with Superman after refusing to go back into retirement, Carrie helps Bruce fake his death. She, along with Oliver Queen and Bruce train the Sons of Batman group to begin taking on his job.''JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time''
voices Robin in the Target exclusive 2014 direct-to-video animated feature .DC Animated Movie Universe
In 2013, was released, the first of a series of films that shared the same continuity, known as the DC Animated Movie Universe. Damian Wayne and Dick Grayson appear in several of these films, Damian/Robin being voiced by Stuart Allan while Sean Maher voices Dick/Nightwing.''Son of Batman''
Son of Batman, an adaptation of Grant Morrison' Batman storyline "Batman and Son", was the first time Damian Wayne had appeared in a DC-related film.''Batman vs. Robin''
In Batman vs. Robin, Damian comes into contact with the Court of Owls, being tempted to leave Batman and join him. Throughout the film, Batman and Robin fight over Damian's rawness and his lack of discipline, leading to Damian almost joining the court before Talon, an assassin for the Court, is ordered to kill him when the leader discovers his secret identity. After Talon massacres the entire court, he and Robin clash in the Batcave before Talon commits suicide. Afterwards, Damian leaves for a monastery in the Himalayas.''Batman: Bad Blood''
Damian returns in , teaming up with Dick Grayson to investigate his father's disappearance. The Heretic, makes his first film appearance, as an artificially-aged clone of Damian like in the comics. Heretic attempts to absorb Damian's mind into his so he will know what it feels like to be loved, but Talia al Ghul executes him for his treachery and punishment, much to Damian's horror.''Justice League vs. Teen Titans''
In Justice League vs. Teen Titans, Batman decides to have Robin join the Teen Titans to teach him about teamwork and has Nightwing drop him off at Titans Tower. Damian ends up warming up to the team after being initially hostile towards them, forming a particular friendship with Raven.''Teen Titans: The Judas Contract''
''Justice League Dark: Apokolips War''
''Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders''
Ward reprised his role as Dick Grayson/Robin in the animated movie and its sequel Batman vs. Two-Face.''The Lego Batman Movie''
voices Dick Grayson in The Lego Movie spin-off The Lego Batman Movie. This version was adopted by Batman as a teenager and his Robin outfit is actually a modified Reggae outfit for Batman with the pants taken off. He has large, green glasses similar to the Carrie Kelley version. During the climax, he briefly dons a Batman armor labeled "Nightwing" when attempting to save Barbara and Alfred.''Batman Ninja''
Feudal Japan versions of both Robin and Red Robin appear in the anime film Batman Ninja as well as Red Hood and Nightwing. This was the first time all four mainstream Robin's have appeared together outside of the comics.''Gotham by Gaslight''
The 2018 animated film , taking place in Gotham City in the 19th century, features three orphan boys, Dickie, Jason and Timmy, whose last names are never given. After Batman cripples their gang leader, they are recruited by Alfred for odd jobs and eventually adopted by Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. This is a departure from the original graphic novel Gotham by Gaslight, in which no version of Robin appears.''Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''
Robin is a major character in this 2019 film, and is heavily implied though never stated to be Damian Wayne. He is initially hostile to the Turtles after he finds them infiltrating the Batcave, but grows to like and respect them over the course of the film, and forms a bond of sorts with Raphael.Video games
''Lego Batman''
Robin is a playable character in ', ', and '. Charlie Schlatter voices Robin in the second and third titles. The Robin from the Lego Batman series appears in Lego Dimensions, voiced by Scott Menville. He is kidnapped early in the game's narrative, forcing Batman to find and rescue him. The game also features the Lego Batman Movie version of Robin as a playable character, with bonus story chapters adapting his role in the events of the film; using this Robin in the Teen Titans Go! world transforms him into the version of the character from that series, reprised by Scott Menville.Robin is a playable character in ' and Lego DC Super-Villains.