Last Updated on December 24, 2022 by Lil Ginge
Those of us who are fans of Matt Reeves’s film The Batman are certainly looking forward to its sequel. The Batman 2. (Or whatever the official title winds up being.) The film is currently in development with Mr. Reeves penning the script and Robert Pattinson on board to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne / The Batman.
To date, we know nothing about the plot of The Batman 2. We do know that it will remain a separate franchise and property from whatever the heck is going on with James Gunn’s (apparently rebooted) DC Cinematic Universe.
But one question some people have been asking is whether or not The Batman sequel will feature Batman’s junior sidekick, Robin. Many of us argue that John Blake was a perfectly great representation of the character in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. But, because Blake never put on a Robin suit, many other people were left dissatisfied with that interpretation of the Boy Wonder.
So, such fans are definitely interested in seeing Robin appear on the big screen again in The Batman 2. And, frankly, so am I. Which leads to the question: who could play Robin in the next Batman movie? While nobody has a definitive answer to this question, I do have some potential suggestions for who could play The Boy (or Girl or Nonbinary) Wonder in The Batman 2.
Top Actors Who Could Play Robin in The Batman 2
Finn Wolfhard
Top Credits: Stranger Things, It, Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Age: 19
Finn Wolfhard is most famous for playing Mike Wheeler on the megahit series and Netflix 80s fantasy homage Stranger Things since 2016. But he’s continuing to make a name for himself in the sci-fi/horror/fantasy space with appearances in such hot franchises as It, The Addams Family, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
At just 19 years old, he is the perfect age to play a mid-teens-through-late-high-school-aged Robin The Boy Wonder. Wolfhard has a bit of a geeky onscreen vibe thanks to his Dungeon and Dragons-loving hero on Stranger Things. And he’s probably really nice like most Canadians. But, his turn as a bonafide Ghostbuster in Afterlife certainly helped him harden up his certified action hero potential.
As a Stranger Things fan, I would be interested in seeing Wolfhard get a crack at the Boy Wonder if he’d be interested.
Sadie Sink
Age: 20
Top Credits: Stranger Things, Fear Street, The Whale
I see no reason why Robin needs to be a boy. And speaking of Stranger Things, why not the original ginger wonder Sadie Sink in the red suit? After all, Sadie Sink gives off stronger action-hero vibes on Stranger Things than Wolfhard does most of the time.
Most recently, Sadie Sink is cutting her serious acting teeth in the new Darren Aronofsky tearjerker The Whale, also starring Brendan Fraser in what is shaping up to be the acting comeback of the decade. That film could get some Oscar love, so Sink could help bolster the prestige of Reeves’s Batman sequel even further.
She also gets bonus points for being a Ginge like moi. Could The Batman 2 casting process come down to a Wolfhard / Sink battle royale? I kind of hope so! Would love to see the screen tests from that little duke em out.
Ashton Sanders
Age: 27
Top Credits: Moonlight, The Equalizer 2.
Ashton Sanders is best known for his star-making turn as Chiron in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight. People have referred to that role as an extraordinary performance and for it, Sanders received rave reviews.
As evidenced by his stunning achievement in Moonlight, Sanders has a complex, gritty edge that could bring a whole other level of excitement to the Robin character. Sanders might best make sense as Jason Todd, The Robin who also up as an edgy street tough. He could find himself on the wrong side of the law until Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne takes him under his wing.
Though Sanders might be a bit on the high end of the age range, Nolan has already shown that a post-teens,mid-20s Robin is quite reasonable in a grounded and realistically driven Batman world like Reeves’s.
If that’s the direction in which Reeves decides to go in The Batman sequel, Sanders could be an excellent choice. And while he’s older than the Stranger Things stars, he’s almost a decade younger than Robert Pattinson. So, that’s young enough for me.
Zendaya
Age: 25
Top Credits: Euphoria, Spider-Man
Zendaya may be better known as a superhero’s girlfriend than as a sidekick. But I fully believe in Zendaya’s range to play anything she wants on the screen including an action superhero. And I’d love to see her take on the mantle of Robin in The Batman 2.
Her first onscreen role was as Peter Parker’s girlfriend Mary Jane in Spider-Man: Homecoming. But we’ve gotten to see her best work in her exhilarating characterization of Rue on HBO’s Euphoria. If Zendaya doesn’t win a Golden Globe for best actress for Euphoria season 2, I will have to write angry letters.
Could Zendaya’s appearance pave the way for Spider-Man himself – real-life boyfriend and rather shortish man Tom Holland- to show up in The Batman 2?
Let’s hope not. I don’t think I can take that level of DC-Marvel crossover on the silver screen right now.
Sydney Sweeney
Age: 25
Top Credits: Euphoria, The White Lotus, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
As a star on two of the top series in the streaming era, Euphoria and The White Lotus, there’s no question that twice-Emmy nominated Syndey Sweeney’s blooming star power or her ability to captivate on screen. But her persona, to date, has not exactly screamed “action star”. So, am I nuts?
Honestly, Sweeney is such a force on screen I think she has great action-hero potential. And I think she could do a fine job as Robin. Plus, she did win an MTV Movie Award for “Best Fight” for that amazing title bout with Cassie on Euphoria. If she can attempt to kick Cassie’s ass, why not Bane’s?
I’m not totally convinced she’d be as good as Queen Zendaya. But I’d definitely be willing to give her a shot.
Gabrielle LaBelle
Age: 20
Top Credits: Predator, American Gigolo, The Fabelmans
The Canadian actor Gabrielle LaBelle is one of the youngest on the list and one of the freshest Hollywood faces on the Hollywood scene. If you didn’t know him before, you need to see his gripping performance as Young Steven Spielberg…er.. I mean Sammy Fabelman, in Spielberg’s latest film creation The Fabelmans.
The Fabelmans would not have worked with an actor of lesser quality playing Sammy. Plus, he is more than able to hold his own playing again sure-to-be-once-again-Oscar-nominated-Michelle Williams for her unforgettable turn as Sammy’s mother, Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman.
While I’m not 100% sure that LeBelle has true on-screen action-hero vibes, after The Fabelmans, I’d be more than willing to give him a chance in the role of Robin. Plus, at just 20 years of age, he can get away with a high school-aged Boy Wonder if Matt Reeves feels inclined to go in that direction.
Timothée Chalamet
Age: 26
Top Credits: Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All, Dune
Did I save the best for last? I bet some people will think so. There’s no doubt that Mr. Timothée Chalamet is one of the biggest, brightest stars and teen heartthrobs on the scene right now. But does that make ol’ Timothée right for the role of Robin in The Batman sequel?
Maybe! It’s hard to argue with his on-screen creds. He’s the heir apparent of former teenage heartthrob Robert Pattinson, so there’s that. He certainly has established his action-sci-fi-fantasy credentials and leading a franchise with the extremely successful Dune remake.
Chalamet earned an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for his exquisite work in Call Me By Your Name. He also garnered best actor nominations from the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, and the Critics’ Choice Awards. So it’s pretty tough to argue against his acting chops.
I’m not sure Timothée Chalamet is the most interesting choice for Robin in The Batman 2. But I am damn sure he is one of the best choices.
If you enjoyed this article on who could play Robin in The Batman sequel, check out my article The Batman Sequel: 5 Characters We’d Like to See.