James Gunn is bypassing all the usual avenues and protocols that imply a degree of secrecy when it comes to upcoming releases by announcing his new projects on social media for everyone to see. While social media provides a clear and present path to an excited fanbase, it leaves little room for film delays, new studio priorities, or simply shelving a script that doesn’t work. Still, the man has intimate knowledge of the MCU and its protocols, and he can use that knowledge to build his own DCU and avoid all the pitfalls the MCU fell into.
In his recent posts, Gunn announced a new DC Studios film titled Dynamic Duo, featuring both Dick Grayson and Jason Todd as Robins. According to Gunn, the upcoming feature will be a mix of animation, puppetry, and CGI, with Matt Aldrich penning the scripts and Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho producing. Now, that might not sound as impressive to moviegoers, but there’s actually plenty to be excited about if you’re a Batman fan, especially since we get to see two variants of the most underserved sidekick in the history of superhero cinema.
The upcoming theatrical release will focus on the dynamic between the first two Robins introduced in Batman comics, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, both of whom were ultimately replaced by Damian Wayne. Those who have read the comic will tell you that Dick Grayson later became Nightwing, while Jason Todd went on a much darker path to becoming Red Hood (and Arkham Knight); the recently announced animated film will likely explore the relationship and possible conflict between Dick and Jason as they explore the ideas for what their future holds.
Dick Grayson was Batman’s first Robin in the comics but had grown to a point at which he no longer relied on Batman and outright disagreed with him on crime-fighting methodology; he didn’t like Batman’s use of torture. He abandoned Batman while still donning the mantle of Robin and joined the Teen Titans at 17. In the meantime, Batman picked up Jason Todd (who received a new tragic backstory following the Crisis on Infinite Earths), and Jason took the name of Robin for himself. This means that, at least for a short while, there were two Robins.
Now, it’s currently unclear whether the new movie will see both Dick and Jason taking the mantle of Robin simultaneously or if it will adhere to the comic book lore more closely, with Dick becoming Nightwing. Whatever the case might be, Dynamic Duo is going to provide us with a unique view of Batman’s sidekicks, which is quite refreshing, considering that the last time we saw Robin in live-action was in Batman & Robin. The character did, however, appear in a range of animated movies that have received theatrical releases.
It’s also worth noting that, despite Matt Reeves’ production company’s involvement, the upcoming animation won’t be connected to Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe. However, it’s entirely possible that the idea was birthed in response to the massive success of 2022’s The Batman and its spin-off series The Penguin, which had the biggest four-day audience for a new series on Max (formerly HBO Max) in every region globally, since the release of The Last of Us last year.
It would seem that Reeves is more largely connected to the DCU despite creating his own Batman universe, which could be one of the reasons why the Arkham series he had been planning for his own universe ended up being canceled. So, while Dynamic Duo isn’t connected to Reeves’ The Batman, the question of its place in the DCU still remains. James Gunn announced the animation and live-action crossovers in the new universe, and with Damian Wayne as the focus of The Brave and the Bold, it’s likely that Dynamic Duo will take place in the new DCU.
This is yet another project tied to WB’s Batman IP that’s currently in the works or being released. Joker: Folie a Deux turned out to be a flop, but The Penguin (the two aren’t directly connected) turned out to be a massive success for Warner Bros., considering just how well the show is doing on Max. The aforementioned The Brave and the Bold is also currently in the works, and the same applies to Matt Reeves’ The Batman 2, which currently has a release date of October 2, 2026.
Dynamic Duo is still in the very early stages of development, and there are no images associated with the production of the upcoming animated movie. Sadly, it also lacks a precise release date, but considering that animation is easier to produce compared to live-action, it’s entirely possible that it’s planned for a 2025 release date. No other details about the movie are available, but more information should become accessible as the DCU comes to life with Superman, scheduled for July 2025.