If anyone wants to know how DC Studios is going to be different from Marvel Studios, here’s the best answer yet. James Gunn just confirmed the studio greenlit a film called Dynamic Duo, which will act as an origin story for Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, both of whom become Robin, and will be told via puppet animation.
Deadline first broke the news and reports the film will “follow the early days of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd aka the Robins.” Of note though is that when fans hear the words “Dynamic Duo,” we don’t think of two Robins. We think one Robin and one Batman. So we’ll see how, or if, that plays in.
Gunn confirmed the project on his social media…
Over the moon excited to announce the newest DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation greenlit film for theaters, DYNAMIC DUO, the story of Robin… or should I say, Robins, as in Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. The first feature film from the visionary Swaybox, a mix of animation,… pic.twitter.com/IBBMgP1riP
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 1, 2024
This all sounds very intriguing and interesting, but we have questions. Questions like, what exactly does puppet animation look like? Well, the film is being produced by a company called Swaybox; if you visit its website, its style makes you think of something like Laika. So maybe a sort of Coraline-esque look, but in the DC Universe. Deadline describes it as “a cross between CGI animation, practical elements of stop-motion, and live-action real-time performance. The result is long-form storytelling that is billed to be visually breathtaking, dynamically expressive, and more human.”
Written by Matthew Aldrich, Dynamic Duo will be directed by Arthur Mintz, one of the co-founders of Swaybox along with Theresa Andersson. DC Studio chiefs Gunn and Peter Safran are among the producers along with Matt Reeves, director of The Batman.
“I have wanted to make a film with Arthur and Swaybox for many years, and for that film to be Dynamic Duo, an incredibly special and unique Batman and Robin story for families, is a dream,” Reeves told the trade. But, despite his excitement, the film will not be part of Reeves’ universe. It could, hypothetically, act as an origin story for the larger DC Universe or fit into its Elseworlds banner but it’s unclear at the moment if it’s one or the other. When asked where the film fits in, a source close to the production only confirmed the news that it’s not part of Reeves’ universe.
This is fascinating though, right? We’ve got an animated show, Creature Commandos, kicking off the Gunn/Safran DC Universe. Then a Superman movie, a Green Lantern show, a Supergirl movie, and maybe a Robin origin story with puppets? This is most certainly not Marvel and we’re happy about it.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.