With director Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” introducing a new perspective on the Caped Crusader, online speculation instantly started to rise about what the future may hold for Robert Pattinson’s especially brooding Bruce Wayne. One especially fascinating fan theory was that viewers had already been given a glimpse of this Dark Knight’s future Robin without even realizing it. According to the theory put out by Sean O’Connell of CinemaBlend, the little child who first appears in the movie would someday become the Boy Wonder.
Before killing Gotham City Mayor Don Mitchell Jr. (Rupert Penry-Jones), the Riddler (Paul Dano) is seen in the opening sequence observing Mitchell’s son (Archie Barnes) as he prepares for Halloween, unaware that his dad is about to die. The boy appears several times in the film, especially when Bruce Wayne protects him from Riddler’s attack on the mayor’s funeral. While all of this looked to be setting the kid up as a key character in the future and a possible Batman ally, Reeves has shot down the theory.
“It’s a cool idea,” Reeves stated on the ReelBlend podcast, before clarifying that it was not his intention. But the filmmaker joked that he’ll keep the concept in his back pocket and may need to credit O’Connell if he uses it in a “The Batman” sequel.
