DC has officially confirmed who will play Nightwing in an upcoming film, offering a valuable blueprint for how the studio should handle casting the DCU’s new Dark Knight. Despite the hopes of many fans, Robert Pattinson’s Batman will not be joining the shared universe. That ship has sailed: a new actor will be selected to play the Caped Crusader in The Brave and the Bold.
There is also a chance the DCU’s new live-action Batman could be revealed in another Chapter One project prior to The Brave and the Bold. Persistent rumors already suggest Adria Arjona may cameo as Wonder Woman in the upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow. As for the shared universe’s Batman narrative, it is confirmed that the story will heavily feature the Bat-Family.
When DC Studios unveiled its initial Chapter One slate in 2023, James Gunn announced that The Brave and the Bold would center on the complex dynamic between Bruce Wayne and his biological son, Damian—one of the key Robins from DC Comics. Gunn also confirmed that other Bat-Family members would appear, though specific characters were not named at the time.
Chief among the candidates for a role in The Brave and the Bold is Dick Grayson, DC’s original Robin, who matures into an independent hero under the moniker Nightwing. Even before the live-action feature arrives, DC has already cast Dick Grayson for another major project: the animated feature Dynamic Duo. Furthermore, the door remains open for the same actor to make the leap into live-action within the core DCU.
Peter Safran Confirms Nightwing Casting for DC Studios
In September, The Wrap reported initial casting leaks for Dynamic Duo. The animated feature centers on two iconic Robins, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, reportedly voiced by Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon) and Logan Kim (The Walking Dead: Dead City), respectively.
Now, during an interview with Collider promoting Clayface—DC’s final 2026 film release and its first R-rated project under the new banner—DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran addressed those reports directly. Safran officially confirmed that Mason Thames will voice Dick Grayson in Dynamic Duo, offering high praise for the young star:
“We always talk about wanting people who volunteer, not recruits, to be part of the DCU and DC Studios. Mason has always wanted to be Dick Grayson. That’s just the truth. He came in for the audition and gave it everything he had—he was fantastic. He’s an extraordinary young actor, but more than that, he genuinely coveted this role. He was obsessed with it. When he came into the DC offices, he brought his father along. We have so many archives and cool memorabilia, and he wanted to take photos with everything, pose next to it all. He’s a true fan.”
The decision relies on more than just Thames’ undeniable talent. In 2025 alone, the young actor starred in three films that opened at number one at the North American box office: the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, horror sequel The Black Phone 2, and the Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You.
What stands out most is how Safran describes him: a genuine fan who “always wanted to be Dick Grayson.” According to the executive, Thames brought unprecedented passion to his audition. Safran reiterated that DC Studios prioritizes actors who actively choose to be part of the DC universe over performers hired simply to fill a role.
The New DCU Batman Should Follow Mason Thames’ Nightwing Casting Model
Given Safran’s comments, a strong possibility exists that Thames could portray Nightwing in James Gunn’s live-action DCU—even if Dynamic Duo ultimately functions as a standalone Elseworlds project. Regardless of continuity, casting Thames as Dick Grayson demonstrates the exact philosophy DC should apply when selecting its new Batman.
While numerous actors remain in the conversation for the Dark Knight, the role demands a long-term, multi-project commitment. The DCU is shaping up to be the most comic-accurate live-action franchise ever attempted, meaning the studio cannot afford a misstep with its centerpiece hero.
Fans hope the new lead will stand as the definitive Bruce Wayne. Finding a talented actor who is also a passionate Batman enthusiast—someone with a deep desire to inhabit the role across a multi-year arc—is the ideal scenario.
It is the same formula that brought Thames to Nightwing, and one David Corenswet demonstrated when he openly shared his dream of playing Clark Kent years before the new DCU took shape.
By sticking to this template, DC ensures its lead performers are deeply invested in their characters’ journeys. Safran’s comments on the Nightwing casting set high expectations: the search for the next Batman is being approached with the same care and enthusiasm that brought Mason Thames into the fold.
