Batman v Superman: Zack Snyder debunks 'Joker was Robin' fan theory

The director has revealed the reason as to why Robin's costume appears in the film covered in The Joker's graffiti

One of the most intriguing elements of the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer was the appearance of a graffitted Robin costume in the depths of the Batcave.

What exactly was Snyder referencing here? Is there a deceased Robin haunting Batman's mind? Or, as a fan theory cleverly put forward, is this actually a hint about the origins of Jared Leto's Joker? Evidenced from the puncture holes in the costume matching up to marks on Leto's body in Suicide Squad's official promo picture; some fans were led to believe the Joker is actually Jason Todd, the second Robin.

Well, Snyder's put an abrupt end to those theories. The director explained to IGN that the costume did, indeed, belong to a Robin that was murdered at the hands of the Joker; a storyline which recalls the 1988 comic A Death in the Family.

"In my mind, it was that Robin had died 10 years earlier, during some run in with a young Joker," he stated. "To me, it was a fun backstory… to play with. The whole idea was that there had been loss and sacrifice. [Batman] doesn’t really have a life outside of the cave. I thought by including Robin – a dead Robin – it would help us understand he’s been on quite a little journey."

So, supposedly Robin's death won't be a feature in the upcoming Suicide Squad; though it may, perhaps, form some basis in the solo Batman movie Ben Affleck has already reportedly written.

Suicide Squad hits UK cinemas 5 August.