DC fans have made it clear that they want to see Dylan O'Brien cast as Nightwing, and he's absolutely perfect for the role. For years, audiences have talked up Dylan O'Brien as the best possibility to play Nightwing in a live-action movie. While the actor physically fits the bill, as he shares a striking resemblance with the character in both his build and facial features, there's actually far more to the fan-casting that makes O'Brien such a perfect choice for Nightwing.
Though Teen Wolf's Stiles, Thomas in The Maze Runner franchise, and the lead in 2020's Love and Monsters, O'Brien's varied capabilities speak for themselves, highlighting why he would make an excellent Nightwing for the DCEU.
With O'Brien being physically compatible with the character, and his previous credits evidencing how capable he would be of ing the ranks of DC's live-action heroes, it's not hard to see why fans have clamored for O'Brien as Nightwing. Though O'Brien may have stated that nothing official is in the works, lovers of comic book movies have learned not to trust actors' claims in recent years, after Andrew Garfield denied his Spider-Man return in No Way Home. Either way, O'Brien's hypothetical casting is a perfect one.
Why Dylan O'Brien Is Perfect For Nightwing
Of course, it's easy to see the striking physical resemblance between O'Brien and Nightwing, but the reasons why his casting would be perfect are actually much more than skin-deep. O'Brien's previous roles in multiple franchises speak to how capable he would be: both Teen Wolf and The Maze Runner involved elements of sci-fi and fantasy, with physical aspects to the roles not unlike those of a comic book movie. With this experience behind him, O'Brien undoubtedly possesses some of the appropriate skills to take on the role of Nightwing.
However, Dylan O'Brien's roles as Stiles on Teen Wolf and Thomas in The Maze Runner actually lend him an added, deeper credibility that makes him even more perfect for Nightwing. O'Brien secured his initial reputation as a teen star, which would draw certain parallels with the character of Nightwing, who famously got his superhero beginnings as Batman's young sidekick, Robin. Taking on the mantle of Nightwing marks a shift in Dick Grayson's career, the exact same type of metamorphosis that O'Brien's career has undergone in recent years. This gives O'Brien an added personal connection to the character that could inform his performance as DC's Nightwing if he were cast in the role.
Will Dylan O'Brien Be Cast As Nightwing?
With the Batgirl movie hinting at Robin's DCEU existence, it's more than plausible to assume that Nightwing will make an appearance sooner or later - after all, he's a massively popular character with ties to DC's most iconic heroes. Whether or not O'Brien will be cast as Nightwing ultimately remains to be seen, although the buzz that fans have created around the actor's potential role in the DCEU cannot be ignored. It's currently unclear exactly when or if Nightwing will appear in the DCEU, but O'Brien will surely be high on the list of potential casting choices for the role.
