Even though Batgirl has yet to hit HBO Max, lead star Leslie Grace says that there are already talks about a potential Batgirl 2. Since the launch of the HBO-branded streaming service, Warner Bros. has begun to expand its DCEU properties onto the small screen while still tying it to the cinematic universe. Following The Suicide Squad, John Cena got a Peacemaker spinoff series that scored a season 2 pick-up earlier this year. In addition to the DC TV shows with ties to the films, Warner Bros. is also producing original DCEU films for HBO Max, with Batgirl being one of them.
While Michael Keaton's Batman will play a part in the DCEU-based film, Barbara Gordon will be jumping from panel to screen in her own solo film. Directed by Ms. Marvel directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Batgirl focuses on Barbara's origin story in how she becomes one of Gotham City's fierce protectors. Even though most of the story details are being kept under wraps, Batgirl will face off with the villainous Firefly, played by Doom Patrol star Brendan Fraser. Filming for Batgirl recently wrapped at the beginning of April as post-production for the film is currently underway.
Even though HBO Max has yet to reveal a release date for Batgirl, it appears that discussions are already happening for sequels. In a new interview with Variety, Grace spoke about her experience shooting Batgirl and becoming one of DC's most popular heroines. When jokingly asked by the interviewer when they will start filming Batgirl 2, Grace actually did offer some intriguing answers about the future of the franchise. Without stating that a Batgirl sequel is 100% set in stone, the actress confirmed that they have started having talks about a possible follow-up, stating the following:
"[Laughs] We got to see this first one first. But there’s definitely some talks about what it could be. I’ve seen some of what we’ve shot, obviously in the playback and stuff like that, and it’s insane. We’ve already been talking about where do we take this from here because there’s so much that happens in this film. There are a lot of different themes in the plot that we touch on. It’s not just the action. There’s a love story. There’s this father-daughter relationship. There’s looking at the world through a lens that isn’t just black and white and seeing the color and the spectrum between things."
Despite having already shot Batgirl, the HBO Max Original may potentially face a delay due to The Flash movie being rescheduled for June 2023. This is due to the fact that Keaton's Batman is making his DCEU debut there, which would set up his role in Batgirl. Whatever goes down in The Flash film that results in this version of Bruce Wayne being stuck within the DCEU would be a huge spoiler if Batgirl were to premiere on HBO Max before Keaton's first film hits theaters. For the time being, Warner Bros. nor HBO Max have clarified if they are planning on pushing Batgirl back to 2023. At this point, it's more than likely an announcement that will come in the near future.
As far as where Batgirl 2 could go, it would be a missed opportunity if Barbara didn't somehow come into contact with the Birds of Prey, one of Barbara's teams in the comics. Jurnee Smollett is getting her own Black Canary movie on HBO Max, following the events of Birds of Prey, as it's currently in development. It feels like it's only a matter of time before Dinah, Helena Bertinelli/Huntress, and Batgirl come together in some capacity, and Batgirl 2 would be a solid place to have them team up. Once Batgirl gives fans a proper introduction to Grace's Barbara, sequels should definitely capitalize on the iconic trio of heroines uniting in the DCEU.
Source: Variety
