Nearly two years after his Marvel Studios blockbusterAvengers: Age of Ultronhit theaters, filmmakerJoss Whedonis jumping ship to Warner Bros. and DC Films. The director is close to finalizing a deal to write, direct and produce a standaloneBatgirlmovie, which will be part of the studio’s DC Extended Universe (DCEU). This new project is said to have originated over the past month, but there hasn’t been any indication regarding where this movie may fit on the studio’s DCEU slate over the next few years.
Varietybroke the news on this project, which doesn’t have any other producers lined up as of yet, but the project will be overseen byDC FilmspresidentsGeoff JohnsandJon Berg, along with Warner Bros. Picture Group president and chief content officerToby Emmerich. This will mark the first time thatBatgirlhas ever gotten her own stand alone movie, with this report also claiming that it features other characters “from the world of Gotham.” Those characters may includeBen Affleck’s Batman,Jared Leto’s Joker or perhaps even theGotham City Sirenscharacters, although no specific characters were mentioned.
It isn’t known if this project will be developed in conjunction withGotham City Sirens, which is believed to included Batgirl, Brids of Prey and Poison Ivy, along withSuicide SquadstarMargot Robbiereprising her role as Harley Quinn. Since that project is much farther along in development, withGeneva Robertson-Dworet(Tomb Raider) writing the script andSuicide SquaddirectorDavid Ayertaking the helm, it’s possible thatGotham City Sirenscould introduce Batgirl, beforeJoss Whedondigs deeper into the character with this stand-alone movie. That hasn’t been confirmed, but since both projects appear to be connected to the DCEU universe, it seems conceivable.
The first iteration of Batgirl, a.k.a. Betty Kane, was created byBill FingerandSheldon Moldoffin 1961, although the Barbara Gordon version of the character that debuted in 1967 comic Detective Comics #359 became the most iconic version of Batgirl. This beloved character, the daughter ofCommissioner James Gordon, was previously portrayed byYvonne Craigin the originalBatmanTV series, and later byAlicia Silverstonein the 1997 filmBatman & Robin, although that character was Barbara Wilson, the niece of Alfred Pennyworth. Most recently,Rosario Dawsonlent her voice to Batgirl in the animated hitThe LEGO Batman Moviewhich debuted in theaters last month. It’s possible thatJustice LeaguestarJ.K. Simmonscould also be brought in for this movie as Commissioner Gordon, but it’s too early to tell right now.
Joss Whedonhasn’t directed a movie since his Marvel Studios blockbusterAvengers: Age of Ultronin the summer of 2015, but last year the filmmaker revealed that he’s writing a World War II zombie movie, with the filmmaker revealing in an interview that it’s much darker than anything he’s done in the past. It isn’t known if he has finished the script yet, but that will likely be put on the back burner forBatgirl.
