First let me say Happy belated Batman Day to all of you Dark Knight loving comic fans. Now that I got that out the way it's time for me to shine some light on the worlds greatest sidekick. Some recent news got me super hyped. According to moviepilot.comNightwing may in fact appear in The Batman. After reading that I thought I’d indulge on a little Dark Knight sidekick talk. That's right Robin is going to hijack Batman Day, so here we go. I'm going to start with a young actor taking full advantage of the web by auditioning for the role of Robin. Ryan Potter blew the Internet up with an audition tape for ‘The Boy Wonder.’

The Big Hero 6 star moves were overwhelmingly impressive and the sidekick hopefulgarnered a ton of support from fans. He received so much support that the photoshop king BossLogic posted an image of what the Disney star would look like as Tim Drake

That’s pretty dope. It’s insane because The Batman isn’t due to drop for another two years, but the thirst is real. In fact, comicbook.com recently posted fan inspired concept art of what Zach Efron would look like as Jason Todd.

Again, some really cool art work and not too shabby on the fan cast. Nightwing wasn't about to be left out, fans took to Twitter throwing Steven Yeun's name out there for the role of the original Robin-completing the trifecta. When did this frenzy start? Lets take trip down memory lane. This all stemmed from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice giving us a look at a Bruce Wayne who is a little long in the tooth. Naturally, we can assume the vigilante vet has had his fair share of sidekicks especially if the DCEU is staying true to the source material. If there was one thing we knew for certain it was Robin's existence in the DCEU. There were a number of fan theories that surrounded his existence and thanks to one giant Easter egg we got our answer.

That vandalized suite, and cryptic message from the Joker all but confirmed our suspension about Robin. The Express put all our minds at ease when they confirmed that Robin’s existence in the DCEU was 100% true. The Express did us one even one better-reporting the Joker was responsible for his death thanks to Suicide Squad.Comicbook.com further explained that not only was Joker behind the murder, but Harley Quinn may have been present during the ordeal.

So, which Robin did the Joker kill? To me and every reader of Batman: Death in the Family its clearly Jason Todd. Why would they stray so far away from the source material that fits so perfectly with this Batman, I'll explain more a bit later. At least one website agrees that it's Jason Todd. Lets Dick Grayson does as well, and we can only hope Tim Drake and Damian Wayne will follow suite. I can sit here and go over a number different ways on how to use ‘The Boy Wonder.’ Since that’s been done quite a bit I’ll take a different approach and tell you how each Robin fits into the DCEU.

Dick Grayson - Luke Pasqualino (The Musketeers)

Besides having a cool first name, Dick was the first sidekick Batman ever had, and his first son. Bruce adopted Dick, of the Flying Grauson’s after the young boy experienced a similar tragedy with losing both his parents. He offered Dick a home and his mentorship eventually becoming the sidekick known as Robin. After some years Dick grew tired of being in the shadow of his mentor and sprouted out on his own. With some help from Superman he created his own name, Nightwing and with the blessing of the Bats he became the protector of Bloodhaven and leader of the Titans.

Luke Pasqualino has been on my radar to play Dick Grayson for a while. The former Skin’s star not only looks the part, but he’s displayed the ability to play a hero that resembles the smooth, charismatic, acrobatic, Nightwing in 2013’s dystopia filmSnowpiercer as Grey. He did the same in in the short-lived BBC series The Musketeersdisplaying all the physical qualities that lends itself to Dick as D'Artagnan.

How Dick Grayson Fits: Since the DCEU’s version of the Caped Crusader is old and vengeful Dick Grayson being a few years removed from Robin makes perfect sense. Nightwing not only makes for a great cameo for The Batman, which will feature notable Teen Titans villain Deathstroke, but he’d be a great addition for the DCEU in a solo film. Dick has a deep history from his time in t leadership of Young Justice and Teen Titans and his time with Spyral. Having a fresh face like Luke’s would be great to get Nightwing off on the right foot. War of Warcraft’s Ben Schnetzer is another great choice too.

Jason Todd - Dylan Minnette (Goosebumps)

Jason Todd is the second Robin, who later became the Red Hood took up the mantle after the departure of Dick Grayson. Jason’s tragic story tells a tale of a under privileged kid who grew up in the streets of Gotham. His father was a petty criminal and his other was a drug addict. Part of Jason’s story that makes him unique is that he was caught trying to jack the Batmobile another version has him stealing medicine from Leslie Thompkins, but the former is the better version. Either way Bruce tried to help Jason by placing him one of Wayne’s homes for the orphaned. Unfortunately Jason was victimized and tortured forcing Bruce to adopt the troubled teen eventually giving him the title of Robin. Jason was unlike Dick he wasn’t spirited and he had no problem pushing the limits with violent and rogue nature giving Batman a lot more than he bargained for.

Originally I had Dylan O'brien (I think he'd be great), but as you can see I changed my mind. This Dylan is a younger actor (19) whose shown versatility and promise with a strong voice and striking presence he's perfect for Jason Todd. He's played in Prisoners alongside Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal as the older bother of one of the victims. In Goosebumps he got a starring role with Jack Black and Odeya Rush as Zach proving to both critics and fans that he's capable of being a leading man. This summer he was fantastic and convincing in the horro movie of the year Don't Breathe with Jane Levy.

Tim Drake – Leo Howard (Kickin’ It)

Tim Drake is the fun loving bo-staff wielding third Robin. His ambitious attitude and excellent detective skills earned him the title of Robin before calling a quits and taking up the name Red Robin. Tim cracked the code that was Batman and Robin’s identit, He figured out Dick was Robin after seeing him perform a move he had seen him perform when he attend a show featuring the flying Grayson’s. Seeing as how Dick was Bruce Wayne’s son he put two and two together. Fours after Jason Todd died with the help of Dick and Alfred he become the third Robin.

I commend Ryan Potter on his ability to sling a bo-staff, but Leo Howard is the perfect fit for Tim Drake if I ever seen one. In fact, he’s another guy I’ve been lobbying for to get a big time role in any comic cinema capacity, but especially in the DCEU as a Teen Titan.Please feel free to check out my early casting work. Yes he’s a Disney kid but he had a couple of roles on the big screen. He’s played a young Conan in Conan the Barbarianand a young Snake Eyes in GI Joe: Retaliation. He’s a young actor with promise especially in a role like this one, if you won’t check him out in Kickin’ It then at least check out his martial skills on Youtube.. Believe me he looks the part. 

Damian Wayne - Pierce Gagnon (Looper)

Unbeknownst to Bruce he had a son with Talia Al ghul. Damian was nurtured in a lab-bread to be a merciless killing machine and heir to the League of Assassins. After 10-years Talia decided to drop Damian into Bruce’s life in an attempt to throw him off. When that didn’t work after Bruce accepted Damian, Talia put a bounty on her son's head. As Robin, Damian found it difficult not to kill, which went against his father’s code of ethics. Damian was a lot more brash and boisterous than his predecessors, outside of Jason. At one point the young Wayne took on all three Robin’s before him just to prove that he was the greatest of them all. Did I mention he was confident?

I first got a glimpse at him as the adorable Logan Evans the biological son of Clay and adopted son of Quinn on One Tree Hill. Pierce absolutely owned the screen in his breakout role as Cid in Looper. But it was his role in I Wish I Was Here as Tucker that lends itself to Damian. He was funny when he delivered his lines and he stole any scene he was in. The same thing happened when he co-starred with the Oscar winning Halle Berry in the short-lived series Extant as her android son Ethan Woods. So being on the screen with Ben won't be a problem. Damian is hardcore and I have no doubt theTomorrowland star will be able to bring all the right stuff as the latest Robin.

How Damian Wayne Fits: Damien would work in a way that Tim does except opposite. He’d bring a different element to Bruce’s life and it’ll make for some unique father son movie moments. Naturally I have the perfect movie for the little Wayne which happens to features the Court of Owls.

Honorable Mention Stephanie Brown - Zoey Deutch

Stephanie Brown is the daughter of Cluemaster, she’s inspired to become a hero for the soul purpose of spoiling her father’s plans giving herself the name Spoiler. Stephanie becomes the 5th Robin after her boyfriend Tim Drake steps down. She doesn’t last long as Robin, though and she eventually becomes Batgirl, but she’s still mostly known as Spoiler.

Zoey is set to starred alongside Blake Jenner and Tyler Hoechin in the critically acclaimed sports dramedy Everybody Wants Some as Beverley an outspoken art major and love interest of Jake (Blake’s character). She also appeared in Dirty Grandpa as Zch Efron’s love interest and Beautiful Creatures as Emily Asher. While she was a screen thief in each of her supporting roles it’s her role in Vampire Academy as Rose that makes her perfect for this role. Stephanie may not fit as seamlessly as the others, but she'd work in her own way even if it's for a short period of time. There you have it, ‘The Boy Wonder’ in the DCEU.

Which Robin Would You Like to See in the DCEU?