DC's New Nightwing Casting Is So Perfect, James Gunn Needs To Make It DCU Canon

Published Sep 25, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

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DC has a new Nightwing actor who fits the character so perfectly that James Gunn and the DC Universe need to keep him around. Dick Grayson is one of the core characters in Batman's corner of the comics. The original Robin has a place beyond the Dark Knight's shadow as Nightwing, including leading the Teen Titans, the Outsiders, and the Justice League.

Yet, Dick Grayson is currently absent from the DCU. This is at least partially driven by the franchise's Batman problem. The franchise has been developing The Brave and the Bold as a Batman movie for a few years, but progress has been slowed by The Batman Part II's delays. The DCU's Batman film is known to have plans for the Robin mantle, but it will be Damian Wayne taking on the codename, not Dick.

Nightwing is a character the DCU will absolutely include at some point. The Brave and the Bold could still have a role for him. He also would surely factor into the in-development Teen Titans feature. In either case, that leaves DC Studios in a spot where they'll need to cast the DCU's Nightwing before too long. An upcoming DC movie has now given the franchise its perfect casting choice.

Mason Thames Has Been Cast As Dick Grayson In DC's Upcoming Batman Movie

Credit: Anita Bugge/Future Image/Cover Images

Before The Brave and the Bold or Teen Titans get off the ground, DC Studios is tapping into the Batman-side of the universe to make Dynamic Duo. The movie is set to feature a unique mixture of CGI, stop-motion animation, and puppetry to tell a fresh story about Dick Grayson and Jason Todd's early days as Robins. DC Studios unveiled plans for the film in 2024, and two years later, its cast has been revealed.

The voice cast includes Logan Kim as Jason Todd, Lee Pace as Red Hood One, and Steve Buscemi as Red Hood 2, but the most exciting development is Mason Thames being cast as Dick Grayson. The 19-year-old actor has become one of Hollywood's rising stars thanks to roles in the Black Phone franchise and Universal's live-action How to Train Your Dragon remakes.

As of now, Thames has only been cast as Dick for Dynamic Duo, not the DCU at large. The movie is not currently confirmed to be part of the shared universe Gunn is creating. Instead, it may slide into the Elseworlds category, like The Batman franchise. However, Gunn has confirmed his interest in making Dynamic Duo part of the DCU if they can figure out how to make it fit:

The reason I haven't answered to this because there might be a way it might fit into the DCU. I would love for this animated puppet movie to be a part of the DCU. That's really appealing to me, but the story is unique, and so it may not work within our universe.

Mason Thames Should Also Play Nightwing In The DC Universe

Regardless of whether the entirety of Dynamic Duo winds up being part of the DCU, Thames' casting as Nightwing is an element Gunn should carry over to the larger franchise. He is the right age, has the right look, and has more than enough ability as an actor to bring Dick's strength, charisma, humor, intellect, and empathy to the screen. DC clearly believes that already by casting him for Dynamic Duo, a decision Gunn surely signed off on.

The DCU has already been willing to bend its universe to retain great aspects of projects beyond the core DCU continuity. Xolo Maridueña is returning as Blue Beetle, even if Blue Beetle isn't fully canon. Select events from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1 have carried over, but some elements were changed to fit.

Considering the DCU has plans for a more established Batman who is already watching his son become Robin, Dick Grayson will have to be more of a young adult. Thames will be in his early-to-mid 20s by the time he makes a live-action debut as Nightwing, whether that's for The Brave and the Bold, Teen Titans, or some other project. What really matters is Gunn locking him down as the DCU's Nightwing next.