The CW and Warner Bros. TV have dropped the idea to do THE GRAYSONS, an origins story on Batman sidekick Robin, per VARIETY.
News came out in early October that the DC Comics character was to be given a SMALLVILLE-like treatment, but Warner Bros. Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov changed his mind and pulled the plug on the project.
THE GRAYSONS was to have followed a teenage Dick "DJ" Grayson before he took up the Robin crime fighting identity. "Warner Bros. TV never had 100 percent clearance," said one exec familiar with the situation to VARIETY.
The Robin-centered show was to have been a SMALLVILLE replacement for the CW when it inevitably retires in the near future.
SMALLVILLE exec producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson were to write and exec produce, with Wonderland Sound and Vision's McG and Peter Johnson were to also exec produce.
The decision reportedly stemmed from Warner Bros.' decision to "rethink its DC Comics strategy" as well as not have a Batman TV show and active film franchise up and running at the same time.
THE DARK KNIGHT director Christopher Nolan never signed off on the show and was reportedly uncomfortable with the idea of a Batman franchise on TV now, but the studio said the decision was solely Robinov's.
Still in the early stages of development, a script had not been written on THE GRAYSONS. Set in modern times, the show was to have been one hour and follow DJ as he faced challenges involving first love, rivals and his family, the famous juggling act, as he grew up.
WB TV is reportedly looking at other potential franchises in its library for the CW. The network is now looking seriously at a revival of CBS Paramount's MELROSE PLACE, which ran from 1992 to 1999.
However, a new animated series, BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, will premiere next Friday from Cartoon Network.
