Everyone’s ready to cast Joss Whedon’s Batgirl film
There’s no deal, but fans not deterred
Move over, Buffy and Black Widow. You may have some competition from Batgirl.
Last week, Variety reported that Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and director of two Avengers movies for Marvel, was “nearing a deal” to direct a solo Batgirl film for DC and Warner Bros.
The report sent fans into a tizzy on Twitter and has already spawned casting rumors and comments from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins.
So what’s the deal? Neither Whedon nor the studio has confirmed that the movie will happen, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation from fans and the media.
Here’s everything you should know about the potential project:
WHAT MIGHT A BATGIRL MOVIE LOOK LIKE?
The film would be a first for the character, so if you’re not into the comics themselves, you may only be familiar with Yvonne Craig’s appearance as Batgirl in the campy 1960s Batman TV series.
For many fans, Batgirl is Barbara Gordon, daughter of Gotham City police chief Jim Gordon. She is one of the most popular DC Comics characters right now, especially with the recent “Batgirl of Burnside” run, in which Barbara is a social media- savvy teen living in a hip Gotham neighborhood. The comics have an upbeat vibe that would jell nicely with Whedon’s Buffy aesthetic.
Though the Burnside run is the most recent, the film may be based on the “New 52” version of the character.
New 52 refers to DC’s re- launch of its characters in the comics in 2011. This version finds Batgirl years after an at- tack by the Joker that left her paralyzed. She regains her mobility through experimental surgery, but she’s haunted by a near- death experience.
That darker take on the character might fit with existing DC films like Batman v Superman.
Regardless of which particular version she’s in, Barbara is always smart, self- sufficient and independent.
WHO MIGHT PLAY HER?
All casting projection is speculative, but that hasn’t stopped people.
EW has suggested Hailee Steinfeld or Riverdale star Camila Mendes, among others. The Nerdist has suggested Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez. Forbes also suggests Steinfeld, along with The Witch star Anya Taylor- Joy.
We’d root for an actress like Mendes, who could play up the whip- smart and irreverent parts of Batgirl’s personality.
WHAT DO OTHER DC CREATORS THINK?
We don’t have any word from the grandaddy of the DC films, Zack Snyder, but comics writer Gail Simone, who wrote the New 52 run, tweeted that she was excited about Whedon’s potential involvement.
“The fact that they got him for Batgirl shows a serious commitment. It won’t be some bland spin- off.”