Mason Thames, known for his role in "How to Train Your Dragon," has officially been cast as Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, in DC Studios' upcoming animated film "Dynamic Duo." DC Studios co-head Peter Safran confirmed the casting to Collider, stating that Thames was exceptionally eager for the part.
Safran described Thames as "obsessed" with the role, noting his proactive pursuit of the character. "He always wanted to be Dick Grayson," Safran said. "He came in, and auditioned the s--t out of it, and was awesome. He's a wonderful young actor, but boy, did he want this."
The film is expected to focus on the early days of both Dick Grayson and Jason Todd as Robins, meaning neither Nightwing nor Red Hood are likely to appear, at least initially. "Dynamic Duo" will reportedly blend traditional CGI animation with stop-motion and puppetry techniques, a visual style Safran likened to the groundbreaking approach of Pixar's "Toy Story."
"I think that the Swaybox technology is as original today as Pixar was when it did Toy Story," Safran explained. "Even though it's puppets with an overlay of CGI, the fact that it's shot with real cameras brings a visceral nature to the action in a way that I don't think animation itself ever can really capture."
Details regarding a potential Batman in the film remain unclear. James Gunn, DC Studios co-head, has indicated that the search for the DCU's Batman is imminent, with a focus on casting an actor close in age to Superman actor David Corenswet. Gunn has also previously stated his intention for actors to portray their roles across all DCU mediums, including live-action and animation, suggesting that the future Batman might voice the character in "Dynamic Duo," though this remains speculative. Similarly, Thames could potentially reprise the role of Nightwing in live-action projects.
"Dynamic Duo" is slated for release on September 22, 2028.