Nightwing is best known for previously being Batman's sidekick, Robin, before defecting to run his own show as a vigilante. Even though we've seen multiple live-action interpretations of Robin, we have yet to see one with his future alter ego. However, if this recent fan art of Dylan O'Brien is a sign of things to come, we just might.
O'Brien, famous for his roles in the MTV show Teen Wolf and the movie franchise The Maze Runner, might be getting his next break in the DCEU. There has been very little, if any at all, substance to the latest rumors surrounding his next big role, but even if it's not true, that won't stop his fans from showing how cool he would look if he was cast as Nightwing.
Recently, fan art by Rahal Nejraoui of O'Brien posing as Nightwing went viral, thus starting an internet campaign that O'Brien should be cast as the hero when and if he is introduced into the DCEU. Of course, if Warner Bros. dismisses this campaign, it will be forgotten in due time. Still, seeing how well O'Brien fits the part on the surface makes you wonder if it's given Warner Bros. ideas about where to go from here when and if it wants Nightwing in the DCEU.
The popularity of both Teen Wolf and The Maze Runner films has proven that O'Brien is more than capable of leading a successful franchise. That being said, playing a superhero, especially one with the intrigue that Nightwing has, could be a whole different ballgame altogether for him. Still, past results speak for themselves, and O'Brien's status as a heartthrob could be enough to convince Warner Brothers that he's the perfect fit to play one of DC Comics' fan favorites.
Detractors may see O'Brien's role as Nightwing as just another Hollywood pretty boy getting cast as the lead in a genre that's already super popular as it is. However, we have to remember that it was around this time in 2011 that Chris Evans was in a similar spot before he was cast as Captain America. He wasn't highly touted as an actor before being cast as a supe that, lest we forgot, wasn't too popular at that time. Fans know what happened next. Evans' portrayal as Cap not only helped vault Marvel to the status it has now, but it solidified him as an A-list actor. O'Brien could have a similar story.
For all we know, when it comes down to it, this is a simple instance of fan art and nothing more. Even if this could potentially give intel to Warner Brothers that O'Brien could be a solid choice to play one of their more mysterious heroes, they may ultimately decide to go with someone else, and that'll be that. No matter who they decides to cast, fans will definitely keep their eyes peeled on who gets the role when Nightwing's time comes.
Source: Rahal Nejraoui/Instagram
