One of my favourite shows is Smallville , there are a number of reasons for this , I've allways loved the character in films and coimcs . Of course would Smallville be Smallville with out Tom Welling ?. So imagine my delight when I heard that Smallvilles producers had sold the CW on bringing Robin the boy wonder to the small screen !
"Smallville" exec producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, as well as "Supernatural" exec producer McG, are behind "The Graysons," which has landed a put pilot commitment at the network.
Just as "Smallville" focused on Clark Kent in the years before he became Superman, "The Graysons" will follow the world of Dick "DJ" Grayson before he takes on the iconic Robin identity and aligns himself with Batman.
"The Graysons" is seen as a potential replacement for "Smallville" should that show end its run this season, which has been speculated. Should "Smallville" return next year, "The Graysons" might also make a strong companion piece.
In the one-hour "Graysons," which will be set in modern times, young DJ will face challenges involving first loves, young rivals and his family as he grows up. Souders and Peterson have come up with an original take on the character.
''In the original Batman mythology, Grayson was a young acrobat and part of the family act called "The Flying Graysons." He was orphaned when a gangster sabotaged his parents’ trapeze equipment. Bruce Wayne took him under his wing and trained him to help fight crime.
Souders and Peterson serve as showrunners (along with Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer) on "Smallville," which has just entered its eighth season. They’ve been with the hit drama since season two, and helped successfully transition the show following the departure of longtime toppers Miles Millar and Al Gough. '' Thankyou Variety .
Of Course there have been many Robins over the years in both comics and films . Lets take a look out them now ....
Batman - Trouble In Paradise (1949) starred Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin.
Robert Lowery portrays Batman, and John Duncan plays Robin in this cut scene from the classic serial Batman and Robin - Knowing Me Knowing You !
DVD's available at all good stockists
The next time Robin popped up was back on the small screen in the wonderfully campy Batman , at the time when I watched it the camp elements went completely over my head . Even when Batman did the 'batusi' nothing seemed out of the ordinary , that Batman would shake his cape in a nightclub While Robin listened in from the safety of the Batmobile was totally normal for a kid .
Robin was set to return in one of my favourite films Tim Burton's 'Batman' (1989) the original script by Sam Hamn had the Joker utters this immortal line on seeing Batman with Robin for the first time ''Like your boyfriend. He's kinda hot '' . Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately the Robin storyline was cut before shooting started as Burton struggled to make the notion of The Dark knight taking a teenager under his wing and training him in crime fighting . Tim Burton tried again to include Robin in 'Batman Returns' , this time Robin was to have been a young mechanic and Marlon Wayans was lined up to play the part . Again at the last minute the story line was dropped .
No such existentialist dilemmas troubled Joel Schumacher who took over the franchise with 'Batman Forever' as half of young Hollywood auditioned for the role of a life time . The audtion process was rumored to have focused on a number of screen tests involveing wrestling , gymnastics , weightlifting and one to one combat . Leo Dicaprio at the time was rumoured to have tested such was the lure of the Lycra or rubber .
Leonardo in Lycra ? alas it was not be to be .
Chris 'O'Donnell got the part and complete with ear stud and motorbike he was Robin .Alfred wasted no time in encasing Chris in a full rubber supersuit . Robin returned in the franchise sinker Batman and Robin which unintentionally appeared to be a homage to the antics of the sixties Batman show .
These cut scenes show just how far Joel Schumacher was prepared to reinvent these classic characters .
Currently the comics Robin is Tim Drake aged 17 and his on a mission to save his partner. Batman appears to have gone '' BatBonkers '' and I'm guessing while Bats won't die , but he will go on a period of leave while he recuperates . The rumour is that the original Robin Dick Greyson aka Nightwing will take up the mantle of the Bat .
Which brings us full circle to the question thats on the lips of every Hollywood agent , who will be the new Robin or '' DJ '' ? Every ready to help Dreamboats will be relaxing on the casting couch and will put forward our list of potential Robins , So let the Casting games begin !
