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'James Gunn, please.' That offhand line landed like a throwaway joke in a recent interview, but it also felt like a moment of honest longing. Harry Collett, who turned heads in House of the Dragon, quietly admitted he'd like a shot at Nightwing if the DCU ever calls.
Collett told ComicBook that fans have been nudging him privately about the idea—sliding into his DMs with the same pitch. He confessed he isn't deeply steeped in Nightwing lore yet, but when the host suggested Collett has the right look for Dick Grayson, the English actor didn't argue. He finished the exchange with that succinct plea aimed squarely at DC's new steward: 'James Gunn, please.'
Nightwing's live-action journey has been sporadic. Brenton Thwaites embodied the character on Titans, while the only cinematic glimpses of a grown Grayson came in the 1990s films Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, where Chris O'Donnell played an older Robin. Since then, the mantle of Dick Grayson has largely waited in the wings—until DC's new cinematic roadmap began to assemble.
The Brave and the Bold, one of the early entries in James Gunn's DCU phase, reportedly centers on Damian Wayne as the new Robin. That creative choice implies Dick Grayson may already have evolved into Nightwing by the time the larger storyline unfolds. But does that shut the door on showing him as Robin? Not necessarily.
Filmmakers love a good flashback. If Gunn wants to chronicle Dick's formative partnership with Batman, he can visit those earlier beats without disrupting the present timeline. And Teen Titans, a movie still in development, offers another avenue—an opportunity to explore Grayson's past while following Damian's arc in the present.
Studio executives have hinted that many heroes and villains are already seeded in the DCU, with Batman one of the established pillars. So, the puzzle pieces are there. The question now is whether Gunn and his collaborators will see Harry Collett as the right fit, or if they'll look elsewhere when the time comes to cast Nightwing for the big screen.
No release date has been set for The Brave and the Bold, and casting conversations remain speculative. But Collett's on-record wish is a reminder that the next generation of DC actors is watching closely—ready to step into capes, masks, and the complicated legacy that comes with them.
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