Robin in The Dark Knight Rises? Rumors A-Go-Go!

Is Robin coming to The Dark Knight Rises? I speculated upon that shit last week, when it was announced JGL is negotiating to be in the flick. Now the rumor mill has begun to churn, steam rising and gears crunching.

Slashfilm:

But a report from a Michigan NBC affiliate might now suggest otherwise. According to reports, location scouts for  The Dark Knight Rises were in Grand Ledge, MI recently and were looking at a water treatment plant to possibly be used as “a hideout for Batman’s sidekick Robin.” Are the location scouts being misquoted? Could this just be a red herring? Or are they possibly referring to another Robin? Read all the possibilities and quotes after the jump.

I don’t blame anyone who initially balks at the concept. In fact, both Nolan and Bale have publicly stated in the past they didn’t think it was the best idea.

Slashfilm Again, God Love Them:

Now, let’s put that statement into  movie geek context. First of all, before even  Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan was  quoted on SuperHero Hype saying the following:

This is a young Batman, so Robin’s a few films….not for a few pictures anyway. Dick Grayson’s still in a crib somewhere. I seriously doubt I will even be involved when Robin’s in the franchise.

That’s not a flat out denial, and he said it in 2005, but it seems pretty anti-Robin. Then, around the time of  The Dark Knight, star Christian Bale had  this to say about the character:

If Robin crops up in one of the new Batman films, I’ll be chaining myself up somewhere and refusing to go to work.

So yeah, maybe this is all bluster and high-speed bullshit spinning out of the internet fans. But bare with me. Indulge me. ‘Cause I think it could work. Forget the notions of Robin as you’re predisposed to conjure up. This is the same Nolan who pulled off the Joker. Our own Rendar Frankestein more eloquently laid out how Robin could be snapped into the mythos. So Imma just quote him.

Let Joseph Gordon-Levitt fulfill the role of Robin as Paul Pope imagines the character in Batman: Year 100. The dude isn’t a pre-teen in goofy underwear, but an assistant of Batman’s in his early twenties (I’m guessing). When Batman needs help, this Robin tosses on a Bat-Suit.

Let’s see Bane break Batman’s back and then have JGL step up to the plate, donning the cowl. So many sick Batman themes of recent would be in play:

– Batman is not simply an individual
– Robin filling in for Batman (ala Dick Grayson)
– Perseverance of ideas despite corporeal realities

I’m gushing.

There you go. Thoughts? Ideas?