‘Mortal Kombat’ Star Says Playing Nightwing Would Be a Dream Come True

Fan casting has become one of the internet’s favorite pastimes when it comes to superhero movies, and few names get thrown around as often as Lewis Tan when the conversation turns to Nightwing. The martial artist turned action star has built a career on physically demanding roles, and his connection to the DC universe actually stretches back years before James Gunn ever took the reins of the franchise.

Tan’s path to superhero stardom has been built on authenticity above all else. Trained across muay thai, kickboxing, karate, jujitsu, wrestling, and multiple weapons disciplines, he performs the vast majority of his own stunts, a philosophy passed down from his father, Philip Tan, a martial artist and stunt coordinator who worked on Tim Burton’s 1989 ‘Batman.’

That family connection to the Caped Crusader’s world has only fueled speculation about Tan eventually suiting up as Dick Grayson. In a recent interview, Tan made clear that playing Nightwing in live action remains something he genuinely wants, describing it as the kind of role he would love to bring something unique to.

Tan’s interest in Nightwing isn’t a new development. Back in 2018, the actor met with DC executives to discuss several potential projects, with Nightwing coming up as one of the possibilities during those conversations, tied to a solo film that was in development at the time under director Chris McKay before the project was ultimately shelved.

Speaking with ComicBook.com more recently while promoting his film ‘Safe House,’ Tan addressed the ongoing fan support for his casting directly, expressing appreciation for the fancasts online. He explained that Nightwing is a character he considers incredible and one he believes he could bring something unique to, while also naming Red Hood as another DC role he’d be interested in exploring, envisioning a darker, more violent take on that character.

James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe officially kicked off in December 2024 with the animated series ‘Creature Commandos,’ followed by ‘Superman’ and ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2, with ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Lanterns,’ and ‘Clayface’ all set to arrive this year. So far, there’s been no official confirmation of Nightwing joining the roster, though fans widely expect the character to eventually surface in either ‘The Brave and the Bold’ or a future Teen Titans project.

Tan isn’t the only name fans have floated for the role, either. Hudson Williams, known for his work on HBO’s ‘Heated Rivalry,’ has also publicly expressed interest in playing Dick Grayson, even earning an endorsement from ‘Nightwing: Year One’ co-writer Scott Beatty.

With Tan’s Mortal Kombat franchise continuing to build his action-star credentials and his martial arts background lining up so well with the character’s comic book roots, it’s easy to see why fans keep pushing for his casting. Whether DC Studios ultimately agrees remains to be seen, but Tan has made it clear the door is wide open on his end.