However, Joss has since dropped out of the project – announcing in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter back in 2018 that he had “failed” to make it work out.
“Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/D.C. such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realise I really didn’t have a story,” Whedon said. “I’m grateful to Geoff [Johns – president of DC Comics] and Toby [Emmerich, Warner Bros. Picture Group president] and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I . . . uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed?’”
Thankfully, in April 2018 screenwriters Christina Hodson was hire to write a new script, while co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were recruited to take on where Wedon left off in May 2021 – and filming began in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.
When’s it out?
No release date yet – but it’s expected at some point later in 2022. Watch this space.
What’s the plot?
It’s believed the Batgirl film will be inspired by the 2015 Batgirl of Burnside comic book written by Cameron Stewart, Babs Tar and Brenden Fletcher. The comic sees DC Comics’ heroine Barbara Gordon – Commissioner Gordon’s daughter – moving to Burnside, a hip new neighbourhood in Gotham, to reinvent herself. Shortly after, she loses her costume in a freak fire – meaning she has to fashion a DIY version with a tool belt (yes – like what actor Leslie Grace is wearing in the costume snap she shared on Instagram!).
Who’s in it?
The Batgirl movie will star Leslie Grace, who played Nina in the film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, as Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl.
Batman will be played by Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser will take on the role of Firefly and J.K. Simmons will play James Gordon, Barbara’s father and the Commissioner of Gotham City Police Department.
Actors Jacob Scipio (White Teeth), Rebecca Front (The Thick Of It), Corey Johnson (Hellboy) and Ethan Kai (Killing Eve) are also said to be on board – with the latter referred to as a “leading character” in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter – although their roles are currently unknown.
Off-screen, Cruella‘s Kristin Burr is producing.
Is there a trailer?
There is currently no trailer for Batgirl – just the first sneak peak imagery.