The upcoming Batman ’89 comic series may finally feature Marlon Wayans as Robin nearly 30 years after he was originally cast in the role for Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. The series will launch in July on digital platforms and will be written by Sam Hamm, the original screenwriter of Batman and Batman Returns, with art by Joe Quinones. With the exception of concept art for a cancelled Batman ’89 series that almost came out in 2015, this will be the first opportunity for fans to see how the Batman films could have turned out if Burton hadn’t left the series and Michael Keaton hadn’t been recast with Val Kilmer.
Batman ’89 is set to explore characters established in Burton’s two Batman films, as well as other comics character reinterpreted in the style of the original movies featuring the Dark Knight. The announcement of the project promised the return of Catwoman, modeled after Michell Pfeiffer’s iconic performance in Batman Returns. It will also likely include a Two-Face modeled after actor Billy Dee Williams. Williams was cast as Harvey Dent in Burton’s original Batman, with a plan to have him portray Two-Face in a later film. But after Burton departed the series, the role was recast with Tommy Lee Jones for 1995’s Batman Forever.
DC announced that the new comic series will also feature a brand-new Robin, which means that readers might get to see a Boy Wonder modeled after actor Marlon Wayans. During the development stages of Batman Returns, the film was set to include the debut of Dick Grayson in the role of Robin. Burton even went so far as to cast Wayans in the part. At the time Wayans was an unknown with only a couple film appearances in projects written by and starring his brothers. Ultimately the part was removed from the film as it was felt that it would over-stuff the movie too much.
After the release of Batman Returns, Burton was set to come back and direct a third film in the series, tentatively titled Batman Continues. Wayans signed on to play Robin, even going so far as to film screen tests and undergo a costume fitting. After Burton stepped down as director and Warner Bros. decided to essentially reboot the series with Batman Forever, Wayans was dropped and Robin was recast with Chris O’Donnell in the role. Things worked out pretty well for Wayans, though. Not only did he go on to have a prolific career that includes The Wayans Bros., Requiem for a Dream, and the Scary Movie films, but he also reportedly paid $100,000 for the job despite never filming a single scene. He has said in interviews that he still receives royalty checks for the role.
There has been no word from DC on whether the Robin in the Batman ’89 series will be styled after Wayans or if they will go with a different design for the character. And even though it is not quite the same thing as having Wayans give his interpretation of the character, it would still give fans a chance to see what Wayans would have looked like in the role. Who knows, maybe the series will see Marlon Wayans as Robin teaming up with Nicolas Cage as Superman.
