Warner Bros. are reportedly now stepping up their search for a new Batgirl director. The mantle has been adopted by numerous DC characters over the decades. The most notable and iconic of which, though, was Barbara Gordon, who debuted in 1967's Detective Comics #359. The character has since been adapted multiple times, appearing in the 1960's Batman TV show and various animated adventures - including The LEGO Batman Movie and the recent Killing Joke adaptation. Fans, however, have long been eager to see her get a solo outing on the big screen.
For a time, it seemed as though it would finally happen, with Joss Whedon signing up to write and direct. Following the underwhelming reception to Justice League and a wave of criticism from fans wanting a female director, Whedon stepped away from the project. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator cited his reasons as "being unable to find a story", leading to many suggestions for potential replacements - including comic book writers Roxanne Gay and Gail Simone. Ultimately, Bumblebee scribe, Christina Hodson, was tasked with penning the script.
According to Heroic Hollywood, Warner Bros. are now more actively seeking a director for the film, indicating that a worthy script has been turned in. For a time, it appeared that a big-screen outing for Supergirl was at the top of the studio's list for the next film to put into motion, despite a small-screen version of the popular hero already existing. Based on the new report, however, Batgirl has now become their top priority. It's also expected that Warner Bros. will continue with their previous intention of centering their search on female directors.
Hodson also wrote DC's upcoming Birds of Prey film, which will see Margot Robbie will reprise the role of Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad. The film will also feature Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary. The plot will see the team come together to combat Black Mask, who will be played by Ewan McGregor. Chris Messina will also star as the notorious serial killer, Victor Zsasz. Rumors also continue to circulate that Barbara Gordon could make an appearance.
Hodson writing both scripts could lend credence to Warner Bros using the team-up film as a springboard. Whatever the case, with both that Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984 going into post-production, the move to make Batgirl a priority marks Warner Bros. continued commitment to diverse and female-led storytelling. It also indicates a renewed interest in returning to the Bat-Family's corner of the universe. The news, after all, comes not long after the casting of Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman. Given the buzz surrounding The CW's upcoming Batwoman series, it would certainly be a smart move on both fronts. Whether Hodson's script will tie into Matt Reeves' highly-anticipated film, though, or mark the DCEU's continued foray into more standalone adventures remains to be seen. Either way, this latest development will no doubt excite fans. As well as provoke a renewed interest in speculating who could - and should - direct the first solo Batgirl outing.
Source: Heroic Hollywood
