The “sidekick” heroes of DC Comics get to step out from behind the cowl and star in their own animated theatrical film, as DC Studios co-Chairman and CEO James Gunn announced via X the official greenlight for Dynamic Duo. Produced by Matt Reeves (Batman: Caped Crusader, The Penguin, The Batman), the movie will tell the story of two of Batman’s “Robins” — Dick Grayson and Jason Todd.
As Gunn revealed in his post, “The first feature film from the visionary Swaybox, a mix of animation, puppetry, and CGI, a script from the wonderfully talented Matt Aldrich, produced with our partners at Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho. This is something special.” The project is notably the first new animated movie announced since the revamped studio announced its forthcoming slate last year.
According to Variety, the film will “depict how the friendship between Grayson and Todd as youths becomes tested by their diverging ideas for what their future should be.” In the comics universe, Grayson (the first Robin) grows up to become the superhero Nightwing, while Todd evolves into the vigilante antihero Red Hood.
Screenwriter Matthew Aldrich has previously helped pen the original story and screenplay Pixar’s Coco, for which he won an Annie Award (shared with Alfred Molina) and was nominated for a Humanitas Prize, and Lightyear. His untitled Chronicles of Narnia project with Netflix is currently in production.
Founded by Arthur Mintz and Theresa Andersson, who serve as principals alongside Noah Scruggs, Chris Armand and Thomas Woodruff, New Orleans-based Swaybox Studios specializes in innovative puppet animation. The shop garnered buzz for its work on the viral “Bring Down the House” commercial for Superbowl LVI, and last year scored investment from L.A.’s Mortal Media. Swaybox and Mortal are working on an animation/live-action hybrid project together.
Dynamic Duo‘s producers are Gunn and co-DC Studios chief Peter Safran, Reeves (6th & Idaho) and Andersson (Swaybox). Batman movie empire maven Michael Uslan executive produces.
Over the moon excited to announce the newest DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation greenlit film for theaters, DYNAMIC DUO, the story of Robin… or should I say, Robins, as in Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. The first feature film from the visionary Swaybox, a mix of animation,… pic.twitter.com/IBBMgP1riP
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 1, 2024
[Sources: X, EW, Variety]
