Why Batman needs a Robin

The hot Batman rumor for the week doesn't deal with the Caped Crusader directly.  Rather, it deals with his long time partner Robin,  Reportedly, actress Jena Malone was set to play Robin in the upcoming Batman v Superman movie or at least have a cameo.

Fueling the speculation was recent photos of Malone with her hair dyed red.  As seen above, the red hair was characteristic of the non-canon Robin, Carrie Kelly from "The Dark Knight Returns."

Non-canon until DC decided to introduce her to the regular DC/Batman universe that is.

Now a report from Latino Review has set the Jena Malone rumor mill on it's ear.

According to Latino Review, and they site three sources, Jena Malone is set to play Barbara Gordon, aka, Batgirl, aka, Oracle.

It makes sense.  With the bright red hair especially.  While I would love to see Batgirl on the big screen it would make even more sense for Malone to be Oracle, the cyber eyes and ears for Batman.  Additionally, Oracle also has a tragic past with the Joker.

That being said, I hope the rumors are not true.

Batman needs a Robin.

More specifically, the Batman as envisioned by Zack Snyder.

According to Snyder, the Batman as introduced in Batman v Superman is seen initially as the villain.  He doesn't say why but if you factor in the trailer quote from Alfred, "That's how it starts, the fever, the rage, that turns good men, cruel." And the one by Affleck's cynical Bruce Wayne later, "Twenty years in Gotham, how may good guys are left, how many stayed that way?"  It is easy to see this iteration of Batman is jaded and angry.

Easier still, when a memorial is kept in the Batcave to remind Batman of his loss.

Yes, we see some of these characteristic in the younger Batman, specifically the one featured in the comics.  But Snyder's Batman is different.  He's older.  He's broken. Quite possibly, beyond repair.

And now, he's got something new to focus his ire on and that is the real or imagined threat of Superman.

To kindle this fire are the machinations of Lex Luthor acting in the background to punish his corporate rival and goad the Batman into irrational acts.

Batman v Superman is subtitled, "Dawn of Justice" so we know with Batman the Justice League will be formed and Batman will be working in concert with the likes of Wonder Woman, Superman and the others. 

But they can't be with him everyday or in Batman's case, every night.

That's why Batman needs a Robin.

Someone to care for.  To look out for.  To share his demons and his adventures with.  An isolated Batman consumed with hate will only implode upon himself.  With a Robin by his side, the focus won't be trying to fix the past but to ensure the future.

The future of a young sidekick that one day may carry on the mantle of the Bat if not just someone to pull up the shawl of an aged Bruce Wayne when the nights get a little colder.

If it's Carrie Kelly then so be it.

Batman needs a Robin to give him hope. 

Hope for Gotham, hope for himself, hope for the future.