WARNING: Spoilers for The Dig.
What happened to Robert Pretty, Edith's astronomy-loving son in The Dig? Portrayed by Archie Barnes, the character seemingly plays a minor role in the 2021 Netflix movie, yet his character arc is symbolic of the main protagonists' hopes and fears. The Dig ends with facts about the real-life characters but doesn't acknowledge the fate of Robert Pretty.
The Dig is based on the historic 1939 Sutton Hoo excavation, which resulted in the unearthing of a 7th century Saxon burial site. Screenwriter Moira Buffini mostly stays true to real-life events for the movie adaptation, though her story is based on John Preston's eponymous 2007 novel; a fictionalized version of what actually transpired. In the Netflix storyline, a widow named Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) hires an amateur excavator named Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to investigate her property. Meanwhile, the protagonist's son, Robert, shows an interest in astronomy while looking after his ailing mother. Directed by Simon Stone, The Dig explores themes of legacy and existentialism while developing the character arcs of Edith, Basil, and the wide-eyed Robert.
In The Dig, Robert shows an interest in astrology and archaeology, which suggests that he's essentially a younger version of Basil, who was an amateur astrologer/archaeologist in real life. Given the 1939 setting and the steady allusions to England's impending entrance into World War II, the subtext eventually becomes clear: Robert is symbolic of innocence lost, but also represents the hope that many people felt during the early stages of World War II. Just like Edith and Basil, Robert is spiritually energized by the Sutton Hoo excavation. At the end of the day, however, he's reminded that life doesn't provide any guarantees. For dramatic purposes, The Dig on Netflix positions Robert as someone who is curious about the cosmos and what may happen in the afterlife.
Robert's real-life fate connects to Edith's concerns in The Dig. The Netflix movie frames Mulligan's character as a woman on the verge of death, or at least someone who is deeply worried about the immediate future of her son. Edith pleads with her cousin Rory Lomax (Johnny Flynn) to stay home during World War II, but the (fictional) character follows his call of duty for the Royal Air Force. The Dig takes place in 1939, approximately three years before the real Edith passed away. In real life, Robert was reportedly raised by his aunt Elizabeth (via The Focus), and never returned to his original home where the Sutton Hoo excavation took place. In 1988, Robert died of cancer at age 57.
In The Dig, Robert's narrative arc complements the central dynamic between Edith (a skeptic) and Basil (a believer). He's mostly framed as a young English boy who is curious about the bigger picture, but the fact remains that he's supposed to be the man of the household after his father's death. In a heartbreaking scene, Robert worries about his mother's health and not being able to protect her, which thematically links with later scenes when the focal protagonists look beyond their immediate concerns and recognize that their work will endure. Given that Robert did indeed live another 50 years (approximately) after the events depicted in The Dig and also had three children, it seems that Edith's familial legacy continues to endure, which is what she seems to worry about the most in the Netflix film.