Joss Whedon Plans Batgirl's Big Screen Adventure

Pop culture phenom and director Joss Whedon is about to enter the DC Extended Universe.

Multiple news outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, IGN, and Newsarama have revealed that the Marvel’s Avengers director is about to put Barbara Gordon on the silver screen with a standalone solo film.

Variety reported that the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel creator is nearing a deal to write, produce, and direct an untitled Batgirl film for Warner Brothers. Sources revealed to Entertainment Weekly that Whedon is looking to incorporate several elements from fan-favorite creator Gail Simone’s three-year run with the character during DC Comics’ The New 52 era.

While Barbara Gordon appeared in multiple animated films such as 1998’s Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, 2001’s Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and last year’s animated adaption of Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s classic Batman: The Killing Joke, Whedon’s film will mark the first time that Batgirl will answer the Bat Signal in a live action movie.

Created by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Julius Schwartz, Commissioner James Gordon’s only daughter, debuted in the pages of Detective Comics 50 years ago, as she helped the Dynamic Duo defeat their longtime foe Killer Moth. DC Comics created the character with hopes to improve the ABC superhero series, Batman’s ratings and the late Yvonne Craig portrayed the character during the series’ final season.

While Barbara Gordon did not appear on the small screen again until 2002 when Dina Meyer portrayed the character on the 2002 short-lived WB series, Birds of Prey, Batgirl remained an integral part of the Batman Family in the comic books. She has undergone many changes such as switching jobs from being the Gotham City Chief Librarian to briefly retiring her mantle to become a member of the House of Representatives in 1972. During the 1970s, Barbara came back into comics when Schwartz decided to have Ms. Gordon go on a blind date with Clark Kent in the pages of Superman and fought alongside Superman as well. In addition to Superman, she became the best friend to the Man of Steel’s cousin, Supergirl, and the two remained close until Kara’s death in the DC maxi-series, Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Sadly, Ms. Gordon’s career as Batgirl ended in the classic Batman story: The Killing Joke. In this unique story, The Joker cripples Barbara in her civilian identity to drive her father insane. While Batman brought the maniacal villain to justice at The Killing Joke’s conclusion, husband and wife team Kim Yale and John Ostrander, were among the many fans who were furious with Barbara Gordon’s fate.

Both Yates and Ostrander decided to reinvent Ms. Gordon, and they gave her a new identity: Oracle. As Oracle, the wheelchair bound heroine became the DC Comics' Universe go-to information broker. After she had assisted Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad, veteran Batman writer Dennis “Denny” O’Neil wrote Oracle back into the Batman Family in 1992’s Batman: Sword of Arazel storyline, where he put her as one of the Caped Crusader’s key allies in his ongoing war on crime.

When Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and the Warner Bros. Animation team released Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, Barbara Gordon was one of the many characters from the Dark Knight’s world that was adapted into numerous animated spin-off shows and video games during the 1990s and early 2000s. Melissa Gilbert, Tara Strong, Stockard Channing, Angie Harmon, Danielle Judovits, and Kellie Martin were some of the actresses that voiced the character during this era.

While there was only one Batgirl who previously appeared on the Silver Screen, it was a variant of the Caped Crusader. In 1997’s poorly received Batman & Robin, Alicia Silverstone portrayed Alfred’s niece, Barbara Wilson, who put on the cowl to continue her family’s crime-fighting legacy.

After Warner Brothers release Wonder Woman on June 2, Barbara Gordon will have the distinct privilege of being the second DC Comics super heroine who will headline a solo silver screen adventure.