Nightwing director Chris McKay has high expectations from the actor he will choose to play Dick Grayson. The actor will not only have to look the part, but pull of the highly demanding stunts involved with the role. The script, written by Bill Dubuque (The Accountant), follows the youngest member of a family of acrobats who becomes Batman’s sidekick Robin, before setting out to find his own version of justice as Nightwing.
In a recent post on Twitter, McKay (The LEGO Batman Movie) spoke about the status of the film, and admits that he is a fanboy of the character. As such, he has high expectations for any actor who takes the role. Even saying he will not take anyone unless they are fully committed to the role:
“The story of Dick Grayson, becoming Robin, then becoming Nightwing played out for us, the audience, in the comics in REAL TIME. It wasn’t a flashback. We experienced it.
So all of Robin/Nightwing’s successes and failures we were along for the ride. And people who underestimated Robin or dismissed him perhaps had their opinions changed as we watched him “grow up” right in front of us.
His relationships, his conflicts with Batman et al felt real to me because he was the window character with which we experienced Gotham City.”
Nightwing will be a film full of stunts and martial arts, so whoever they choose will have to be in great shape and extremely nimble. McKay says that the role will also be emotionally taxing:
“He has to. It has to be a full commitment. Every day. It is going to be gruelling from a martial arts, gymnastics and stunt perspective. Also emotionally taxing. It’s going to be real.”
It appears as though McKay has yet to find a star for the film. The role will come with a great physical and emotional toll.
There is no release date set for Nightwing.
