DC Just Made Everyone’s Favorite Timothée Chalamet Fan-Casting More Likely

DC Studios’ new project could bring the most popular fan-casting for Timothée Chalamet to fruition in the rebooted DC Universe. Best known for his roles in Interstellar, Lady Bird, Bones and All, Wonka and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise, American and French actor Timothée Chalamet has long been rumored to be assuming a superhero role. Chalamet has been fan-cast in a variety of powerful roles in both the DC Universe and Marvel Cinematic Universe, including X-Men member Nightcrawler, Spider-Man’s best friend, Harry Osborn, and even as the DCU’s new Flash, but his most popular fan-cast may have just become more likely.

During a February 2024 interview with The New York Times, Timothée Chalamet revealed that, even though Leonardo DiCaprio had warned him against it, he would assume a role in a superhero franchise. He stressed that he’d make this choice based on the quality of the director and script, which could open the door for Timothée Chalamet to debut in the DCU or the MCU. While the rumor mill has been spinning regarding which notable hero or villain the actor could portray in live-action, DC Studios’ newest confirmed project may have made Timothée Chalamet’s favorite and most convincing fan-cast very possible.

Well, Leonardo DiCaprio said to me, “No superhero movies, no hard drugs.” Which I thought was very good. I follow them both! But the movie that made me want to act is a superhero movie, “The Dark Knight.” If the script was great, if the director was great, I’d have to consider it.

Timothée Chalamet Has Been Fan-Cast As The DCU’s Nightwing

Timothée Chalamet’s most popular fan-casting has placed him as Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Nightwing, in the new DC Universe. Grayson debuted in DC Comics in 1940’s Detective Comics #38 as the original iteration of Batman’s young sidekick, Robin, but as he grew up, he retired from this role and became the independent superhero, Nightwing. At 28-years-old, Timothée Chalamet is the perfect age to portray Dick Grayson in the DCU, as he is too old to play Damian Wayne’s Robin in The Brave and the Bold, but still young enough to be introduced as an emerging hero connected to a new Batman.

Since Timothée Chalamet revealed that it was Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight that inspired him to act, it’s possible that he would jump at the chance to play a character in the DCU’s new Batman franchise. Chalamet’s condition that the script and director be “great” ensures that the DCU’s Nightwing would be handled with care and delivered accurately, as opposed to Brendan Thwaites’ poorly-received Dick Grayson in HBO Max’s Titans series. Timothée Chalamet has the perfect appearance to play Dick Grayson’s Nightwing in the DCU, and DC Studios might have made this possible with the announcement of a new project.

Dick Grayson Was The Teen Titans’ Original Leader In DC Comics

On March 15, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a Teen Titans project is in development at DC Studios, marking the first time the iconic DC Comics superhero team has been seen in live-action on the big screen. Confirmation of the DCU’s Teen Titans movie makes Timothée Chalamet’s potential casting as Nightwing more likely, as Dick Grayson was the original leader of DC Comics’ Teen Titans. The team made its first appearance in 1964’s The Brave and the Bold #54, suggesting that Grayson could be introduced in the DCU’s The Brave and the Bold ahead of leading his own team.

The original Teen Titans had primarily been teenage sidekicks of some of the more-established, adult superheroes. This included Nightwing as Batman’s counterpart, Wally West’s Kid Flash as Barry Allen’s counterpart, Aqualad as a reflection of Aquaman, and Wonder Girl instead of Wonder Woman. Dick Grayson could be introduced to the DCU as the former sidekick to the already-seasoned Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, who has already retired from the role of Robin, allowing Damian Wayne to step up to the plate. Timothée Chalamet would be the perfect casting for the DCU’s Nightwing, and there’s one clear place that he could debut.

When Could Nightwing Debut In The DCU?

It’s possible DC Studios may save Dick Grayson’s debut for the Teen Titans movie, introducing the whole team simultaneously. However, it makes more sense for Nightwing to make his first appearance in The Brave and the Bold. Grayson was the first incarnation of Robin in DC Comics, assuming the mantle long before Damian Wayne, so the latter’s inclusion in The Brave and the Bold suggests Grayson has already retired from the role. The Brave and the Bold would be the perfect place for Timothée Chalamet to appear as Nightwing, setting him up for a major role in the DCU’s future.