Holy prequel, Boy Wonder, the CW is prepping a series based on Batman sidekick Robin’s pre-Caped Crusader days.
“Smallville” exec producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, as well as “Supernatural” exec producer McG, are behind “The Graysons,” which has landed a put pilot commitment at the netlet.
Just as “Smallville” focused on Clark Kent in the years before he became Superman, “The Graysons” will follow the world of Dick “DJ” Grayson before he takes on the iconic Robin identity and aligns himself with Batman.
Project reps the latest DC Comics franchise to be mined for the smallscreen by sibling Warner Bros. TV. McG’s Wonderland Sound and Vision label is also attached.
Souders, Peterson, McG and Wonderland’s Peter Johnson will exec produce.
“The Graysons” is seen as a potential replacement for “Smallville” should that show end its run this season, which has been speculated. Should “Smallville” return next year, “The Graysons” might also make a strong companion piece.
CW insiders said they also see the “Graysons” development as a validating gesture by Warner Bros. that the company is still behind its 50% investment in the netlet, particularly following this fall’s strong openings for “Gossip Girl” and newbie “90210.” They believe the studio wouldn’t risk bringing one of its prized franchises to CW if it believed the net was in dire straits.
In the one-hour “Graysons,” which will be set in modern times, young DJ will face challenges involving first loves, young rivals and his family as he grows up. Souders and Peterson have come up with an original take on the character.
In the original Batman mythology, Grayson was a young acrobat and part of the family act called “The Flying Graysons.” He was orphaned when a gangster sabotaged his parents’ trapeze equipment. Bruce Wayne took him under his wing and trained him to help fight crime.
Grayson later morphed into the character of Nightwing, as part of “The New Teen Titans,” and a series of new Robin replacements were introduced.
This is going to be a wait and see for me but after all the work they put on Green Arrow on Smallville and considering that Justin Harley who has a 3 year contract with the CW is still around. Going with a Green Arrow series spin-off would be the more logical idea. However, what do I know, I’m just a comic fan who has a degree in theatre and business.