Should Robin Appear?

[Timothy]

I realize that Christopher Nolan once went on record to say that Robin would not appear in the films, but since "The Long Halloween" has been referenced, why not use "Dark Victory" as well?

With that in mind, the post-Crisis origin of Dick Grayson as Robin is featured in the story, although, IMO, he should be made a little bit older (but not quite as old as in Batman Forever) for the role.

[Jack Napier]

I'm an advocate that, with the right writer, Robin can be done in a credible manner that would feel new to the public and, I suppose, eliminate the negative stigma surrounding him just as Burton's Batman film made the general populace think twice about Adam West being their only image of Batman.

Something that appeals to me is not only the connection between Bruce and Richard in their origins, but also the possibility that...wouldn't Bruce, in a way, see the death of the Graysons as a failure on his part?
By this, I mean, that Bruce is on his quest as Batman so that no individual will have to suffer through the same tragedy that he did. Yet it happens. And while Bruce could not have reasonably been expected to prevent it, I think Bruce's character, as obsessed as he is, would see it as a failure and try to make up for it.
Obviously, the first thing Bruce would do is try to track down the men behind the murders. He's used to playing the role of detective.

But a wrench is thrown into Bruce's quest for redemption when Richard demands to confront his parents' killers. Batman is thrown into a dilemma, really. He's never really seen himself as a mentor or teacher figure, but now he has to, or else Lord knows what this kid is going to get himself into.
And eventually, I think through being forced to become a father figure, Bruce realizes that what he really lost when his parents died was his innocence and that, in order to gain the redemption he seeks, he must preserve this innocence in Richard. A great article called Robin: Innocent Bystander by Jake Black puts it well, here:

Bruce Wayne is successful in his mission to ease Dick's pain and protect him from further loss of innocence until he reached adulthood. Dick Grayson always found an element of joy in being a superhero; he possessed a childlike happiness that Bruce did not. [...] Batman had seen Dick Grayson's Robin as a reflection of himself, and so was able to, in effect, change his own history. Dick didn't become as dark as Bruce had. It was as though Bruce gave Dick the best things about himself, without bequeathing the worst.

I think the context of this with Batman Begins would be even more interesting.
Bruce himself was vengeful and wanted to kill Joe Chill for what he did to his parents. The only reason Bruce didn't kill Chill that day was because someone else beat him to the kill. Bruce knows how close he came to the dark side and it would be interesting to see him recognize that in a young boy. Of course, there would also be some doubt as to whether or not he could successfully prevent it since, as I've said, Bruce has never really been in the position of teaching someone. And Alfred, his closest friend, was unable to quell his desire for revenge. Bruce may ask himself, "What makes me think I can really help this boy?"

There's also a nice contrast. In Begins, he is always the student. Rachel teaches him who his real enemy should be in the car ride away from Chill's death. Ducard/Ra's teaches him fighting skills and a bit about the criminal element. With Robin in the picture, we would get to see Batman pass on what he's learned over to someone else. The student becomes the teacher/the apprentice is now the master.

To top it off, you've got the conflict of whether or not Bruce is actually endangering, rather than helping, Richard Grayson by allowing him to be Robin. With a powerful ally like Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face, who's to say that something worse couldn't happen this kid?
Overall, I would definitely use not only Dark Victory's take (though I'd have the Robin origin play a bigger role), but also Robin: Year One as a model, since the latter definitely addresses this issue.

[diggidydave420]

I agree...with Robin, Bruce is looking for some sense of a family...he lost his in a vicious manner and seeing another soul losing his parents in almost the same fashion makes him remeber what he went through as a child...if they add him I would like to see an actor 13 maybe 14 years old...not put on the costume...but Dick does find out about the other side of this man who decided to take him in...see Dick use all the anger he has for criminals and train with him...and maybe show the concern Bruce has about taking this child and molding him into another crime fighter. Jeph Loeb talked about adding Robin on Mtv.com and why they should add him and I agree with your statements and his...Robin is integral to the mythos as much as Alfred or Gordon ...Grayson is there to make sure Batman doesn't slip to the darkside

[Jack Napier]

^ Yeah, I like that article a lot.

Here it is, for reference in case anybody hasn't read it yet:
moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/03/should-robin-be-in-batman-comic-legend-jeph-loeb-defends-the-boy-wonder/

[Solomon Grundzarro]

Of course Robin should be in it sooner or later not only is he integral to Bruce/Batman's growth beyond revenge but in the context of the movies it allows at least two more villians if the origins were done right, Bane and Killer Croc, with Bane using a strong man act as cover for his search for his own revenge and Killer Croc being in the freak show.

[Timothy]

Now that you mention it, that would be a nifty way to introduce Killer Croc (and reintroduce Bane) in a film setting.

[Jack Napier]

That reminds me of the Elseworlds comic called, I believe, Nine Lives. It was interesting since Richard Grayson kind of has a connection to Croc. A past friendship.

Perhaps a Robin-Croc story arc about friends-turned-enemies would be an echo to the Batman-Harvey story arc.

[Timothy]

Hmm... I'll admit that it sounds interesting, but I would personally prefer seeing a different villain on screen.

[Jack Napier]

yeah, he's not one of my favorites either, but that would be the direction to go with him, in my opinion. (Then again, I haven't seen Gotham Knight's version).

[diggidydave420]

man I can't wait for that to come out just as much as Dark Knight