DC Universe's Titans will focus on Bruce Wayne, not Batman

In the first season of Titans, the specter of Bruce Wayne loomed over the story like the boogie man. Dick (Brenton Thwaites) clearly did not have the best relationship with him be it personal or work. When Titans season 2 launches on Sept. 6, this is apparently going to be a focus of the story moving forward.

Speaking with Comic Book, Titans showrunner Greg Walker said, "Well Bruce was a huge character on our show last year, you just didn't see him, I mean for the most part." He went on to add, "For Dick, he was omnipresent and it felt like we really needed to dive into Dick's relationship with Bruce to really understand Dick better. I was really excited as a writer to go into Bruce Wayne. There's been so much done about Batman but there's not a ton about being Bruce Wayne... Bruce is really awesome at being Batman, he's kind of crappy at being Bruce."

"We wanted to work on Bruce Wayne trying to restore that relationship with Dick in a way get back to an updated version of father and son," Walker continued. "It could never be the Batman and Robin version anymore because Dick has grown past that and rebelled against it, but what could it be if it goes past that? You have to deal with forgiveness and moving on and kind of adult themes, so I was really excited about writing that. Iain, he has so much stature, he is such a gifted actor with his grace and elegance and weight that he can handle the drama of a man struggling to deal with his estranged son better than anybody I could think of."

There is no doubt that this version of Dick Grayson carries a tremendous amount of emotional baggage with him. IN season one he constantly dealt with his increasingly violent tendencies, but seemed to find some peace once he burned the Robin costume.

Will a repaired relationship with Bruce Wayne open the door for him to finally take on the mantle of Nightwing? It looks as though we'll find out when Titans season 2 kicks off on Friday, Sept. 6 on DC Universe.

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37 comments

Hunter Zolomon

September 1, 2019

I'm glad that Batman won't feature much or at all as this should be about Dick and the Titans, i'm glad however that Bruce is here as that means we won't have those awkward Bruce/Batman scenes from S1 and that they can finally get rid of that elephant in the room with him. Curious to what Iain Glen will be like, he's a fantastic actor but he's not someone i would ever picture as Bruce Wayne.

Les Grossman

September 1, 2019

Just give us a glimpse of him in the batsuit or a flashback-esque short scene where he kicks ass. Not much, I'm hoping for just a taste. That's all I'm asking for.

J.K.2019

September 1, 2019

Do a Batman beyond tv show.

Pikashades
September 1, 2019
And have Dick break his ties to Bruce because Bruce had sex with Barbara? NO! FUCK NO! NO ONE WANTS THAT!!
Thanasis
September 2, 2019
There's no way they'd have the budget to do Neo Gotham well.

OptimistPrime99

September 1, 2019

Yep, still weird casting.😂 With all due respect to him, Iain Glen isn't handsome enough for the role. So hopefully the writing will compensate for it. Batman is the cooler persona. But Bruce Wayne makes him relatable, & worth caring about. I'm looking forward to seeing more content focusing on him being a father. Can't wait! https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
September 1, 2019
What? You're on crack. I don't think Iain Glen is perfect for the role but your points are from left field.
Nahuel Benvenuto
September 1, 2019
The only thing that bothers me is the blond hair, would have been too much to put him on a wig or something?
1. ian_moone
  September 2, 2019
  https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Bruce Vader
September 3, 2019
I don't really mind that he's not as handsome as you perceive him. He's not meant to steal the show.

NinjaGamer13

September 1, 2019

But why is he blond though

rodo
September 1, 2019
For the same reason that Dick Grayson has brownish skin, Starfire is black and Beastboy is a "white" guy with green hair ... the show creators don't give a fuck, they just want to put them there.
1. NinjaGamer13
  September 2, 2019
  Robin and Beast Boy are fine. Starfire’s lack of any orange hue at all is similarly offensive as Bruce’s blond hair. As for Beast Boy, if by “white” you mean Asian, that’s still fine; they still kept the spirit of the comics and what they did was understandable. He’s got green hair still and he’s still green when he shapeshifts. But Bruce being blond is just ridiculous.
  1. rodo
    September 2, 2019
    Whit "white" I tried to say "non-green".
2. Zappy
  September 2, 2019
  Yeah, they care, just not about the things that make the Titans the Titans. Go Diversity Squad Go!
3. Thanasis
  September 2, 2019
  Brenton Thwaites is white.
  1. rodo
    September 2, 2019
    Nope, he's a little bit brown.
    Compare him with Thor (another ausi),.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.c... https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
    1. Thanasis
      September 2, 2019
      He's a tan guy. He's still caucasian. My mother is naturally tan, she's 100% caucasian from Southern Europe.
    2. rodo
      September 3, 2019
      Then mexicans are caucasians too? They're called brown.
    3. Thanasis
      September 3, 2019
      Depends on the descent of the Mexican person. Some have half or full European decent making them at least half caucasian. Some don't. Southern Europeans, who are Caucasians, tend to have somewhat darker skin tone than Northern Europeans. White people aren't just pale white.
    4. rodo
      September 3, 2019
      Was just a curious question... I'm a bad hombre white as a freaking fairy from those Twilight movies.
      What I was trying to state is that when you see to Dick Grayson in the comics or cartoons... you don't think in a tan dude... the same thing with Starfire, you don't picture her in a live action production as a black woman.
    5. Thanasis
      September 3, 2019
      Dick Grayson is a white guy. White guys come in quite a wide array of skin tones. Brenton Thwaites is a white guy of the tan variety. As for Starfire, I don't picture her as a black woman because she's bright orange. A skin tone that isn't natural for humans. If they made her skin orange in the show, the actor's race wouldn't really matter.
    6. Thanasis
      September 3, 2019
      It's like calling John Stamos not white because he's naturally tan. He's a Greek guy and he's caucasian. Also, brown isn't a race.
    7. rodo
      September 3, 2019
      Sounds like a stupid question but I have a point and you'll probably get it but please, just answer... So tan is a darker or lighter skin tonality than, as said by Thanasis, pale white?
    8. Thanasis
      September 3, 2019
      Tan is a darker tonality than pale white.
    9. rodo
      September 3, 2019
      When you see to Nightwing comics or in cartoons you picture him as a tan dude? I think that particular thing did of Thwaites the lest expected choice... I even remember people talking about Finn Wittrock
    10. Thanasis
      September 3, 2019
      I mean, I see him as a white dude with dark hair who looks youthful. He's a white dude with dark hair that looks youthful in the show. A tan doesn't really change that. Finn Wittrock is a great choice as well. This is kinda like Bale as Batman. He's missing the blue eyes and black hair but he still fits the role.
    11. Thanasis
      September 2, 2019
      How uninformed are people that they don't know caucasian pigmentation isn't just pale white.
Bruce Vader
September 3, 2019
Perhaps it's a nod to this guy.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Kaingerc

September 1, 2019

Everyone is concerned about his appearance, but my actual concern that Glen might not be intense enough to play Bruce.
I'm used to seeing him in roles where he has a much warmer personality (even when his character has a darker past), and even the trailers for the second season seem to portray him as such.
Not sure I buy him as someone who dedicated his entire life to fighting crime. (not saying that Bruce in the comics doesn't have his softer moments with his family, but those moments are usually the exception)

Bruce Vader
September 3, 2019
I assume this Bruce will have a warmer personality.

Nahuel Benvenuto

September 1, 2019

Yeah i assumed that was gonna be the case. This is probably gonna be the best superhero related thing in the whole year, should not be hard given the low quality of what we got all year.

FUN

September 1, 2019

Good, and call him Alfred while they're at it.

The Doctor

September 2, 2019

Ian actually kind of resembles a younger Adam West to me. It works for me.

Dan

September 2, 2019

I still think it's Alfred

K_Man399

September 2, 2019

I don't get this casting. I was baffled when it was announced but then decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. He looks and sounds absolutely nothing like Bruce Wayne. Nothing wrong with Iain Glenn as an actor, but this seems like an odd miscast.

Zappy

September 2, 2019

Not very familiar with this Iain Glenn guy, but he looks far more suited for an "I'm the Prime Minister of England" type role than a "I'm Bruce Wayne" type role.

Hunter Zolomon
September 1, 2019
I'm glad that Batman won't feature much or at all as this should be about Dick and the Titans, i'm glad however that Bruce is here as that means we won't have those awkward Bruce/Batman scenes from S1 and that they can finally get rid of that elephant in the room with him. Curious to what Iain Glen will be like, he's a fantastic actor but he's not someone i would ever picture as Bruce Wayne.
Les Grossman
September 1, 2019
Just give us a glimpse of him in the batsuit or a flashback-esque short scene where he kicks ass. Not much, I'm hoping for just a taste. That's all I'm asking for.
J.K.2019
September 1, 2019
Do a Batman beyond tv show.
1. Pikashades
  September 1, 2019
  And have Dick break his ties to Bruce because Bruce had sex with Barbara? NO! FUCK NO! NO ONE WANTS THAT!!
2. Thanasis
  September 2, 2019
  There's no way they'd have the budget to do Neo Gotham well.
OptimistPrime99
September 1, 2019
Yep, still weird casting.😂 With all due respect to him, Iain Glen isn't handsome enough for the role. So hopefully the writing will compensate for it. Batman is the cooler persona. But Bruce Wayne makes him relatable, & worth caring about. I'm looking forward to seeing more content focusing on him being a father. Can't wait! https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
1. Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
  September 1, 2019
  What? You're on crack. I don't think Iain Glen is perfect for the role but your points are from left field.
2. Nahuel Benvenuto
  September 1, 2019
  The only thing that bothers me is the blond hair, would have been too much to put him on a wig or something?
  1. ian_moone
    September 2, 2019
    https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
3. Bruce Vader
  September 3, 2019
  I don't really mind that he's not as handsome as you perceive him. He's not meant to steal the show.
NinjaGamer13
September 1, 2019
But why is he blond though
1. rodo
  September 1, 2019
  For the same reason that Dick Grayson has brownish skin, Starfire is black and Beastboy is a "white" guy with green hair ... the show creators don't give a fuck, they just want to put them there.
  1. NinjaGamer13
    September 2, 2019
    Robin and Beast Boy are fine. Starfire’s lack of any orange hue at all is similarly offensive as Bruce’s blond hair. As for Beast Boy, if by “white” you mean Asian, that’s still fine; they still kept the spirit of the comics and what they did was understandable. He’s got green hair still and he’s still green when he shapeshifts. But Bruce being blond is just ridiculous.
    1. rodo
      September 2, 2019
      Whit "white" I tried to say "non-green".
  2. Zappy
    September 2, 2019
    Yeah, they care, just not about the things that make the Titans the Titans. Go Diversity Squad Go!
  3. Thanasis
    September 2, 2019
    Brenton Thwaites is white.
    1. rodo
      September 2, 2019
      Nope, he's a little bit brown.
      Compare him with Thor (another ausi),.
      https://uploads.disquscdn.c... https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
      1. Thanasis
        September 2, 2019
        He's a tan guy. He's still caucasian. My mother is naturally tan, she's 100% caucasian from Southern Europe.
      2. rodo
        September 3, 2019
        Then mexicans are caucasians too? They're called brown.
      3. Thanasis
        September 3, 2019
        Depends on the descent of the Mexican person. Some have half or full European decent making them at least half caucasian. Some don't. Southern Europeans, who are Caucasians, tend to have somewhat darker skin tone than Northern Europeans. White people aren't just pale white.
      4. rodo
        September 3, 2019
        Was just a curious question... I'm a bad hombre white as a freaking fairy from those Twilight movies.
        What I was trying to state is that when you see to Dick Grayson in the comics or cartoons... you don't think in a tan dude... the same thing with Starfire, you don't picture her in a live action production as a black woman.
      5. Thanasis
        September 3, 2019
        Dick Grayson is a white guy. White guys come in quite a wide array of skin tones. Brenton Thwaites is a white guy of the tan variety. As for Starfire, I don't picture her as a black woman because she's bright orange. A skin tone that isn't natural for humans. If they made her skin orange in the show, the actor's race wouldn't really matter.
      6. Thanasis
        September 3, 2019
        It's like calling John Stamos not white because he's naturally tan. He's a Greek guy and he's caucasian. Also, brown isn't a race.
      7. rodo
        September 3, 2019
        Sounds like a stupid question but I have a point and you'll probably get it but please, just answer... So tan is a darker or lighter skin tonality than, as said by Thanasis, pale white?
      8. Thanasis
        September 3, 2019
        Tan is a darker tonality than pale white.
      9. rodo
        September 3, 2019
        When you see to Nightwing comics or in cartoons you picture him as a tan dude? I think that particular thing did of Thwaites the lest expected choice... I even remember people talking about Finn Wittrock
      10. Thanasis
        September 3, 2019
        I mean, I see him as a white dude with dark hair who looks youthful. He's a white dude with dark hair that looks youthful in the show. A tan doesn't really change that. Finn Wittrock is a great choice as well. This is kinda like Bale as Batman. He's missing the blue eyes and black hair but he still fits the role.
      11. Thanasis
        September 2, 2019
        How uninformed are people that they don't know caucasian pigmentation isn't just pale white.
2. Bruce Vader
  September 3, 2019
  Perhaps it's a nod to this guy.
  https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Kaingerc
September 1, 2019
Everyone is concerned about his appearance, but my actual concern that Glen might not be intense enough to play Bruce.
I'm used to seeing him in roles where he has a much warmer personality (even when his character has a darker past), and even the trailers for the second season seem to portray him as such.
Not sure I buy him as someone who dedicated his entire life to fighting crime. (not saying that Bruce in the comics doesn't have his softer moments with his family, but those moments are usually the exception)
1. Bruce Vader
  September 3, 2019
  I assume this Bruce will have a warmer personality.
Nahuel Benvenuto
September 1, 2019
Yeah i assumed that was gonna be the case. This is probably gonna be the best superhero related thing in the whole year, should not be hard given the low quality of what we got all year.
FUN
September 1, 2019
Good, and call him Alfred while they're at it.
The Doctor
September 2, 2019
Ian actually kind of resembles a younger Adam West to me. It works for me.
Dan
September 2, 2019
I still think it's Alfred
K_Man399
September 2, 2019
I don't get this casting. I was baffled when it was announced but then decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. He looks and sounds absolutely nothing like Bruce Wayne. Nothing wrong with Iain Glenn as an actor, but this seems like an odd miscast.
Zappy
September 2, 2019
Not very familiar with this Iain Glenn guy, but he looks far more suited for an "I'm the Prime Minister of England" type role than a "I'm Bruce Wayne" type role.

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