Joss Whedon is bringing another heroine to the screen. The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator is “nearing a deal” to write, direct, and produce an untitled Batgirl film for Warner Bros. as part of its DC Extended Universe, Variety reports. Whedon previously helmed 2012’s “The Avengers” and its 2015 sequel “Avengers: Age of Ultron” for DC Comics competitor Marvel.
Despite being one of the world’s most well-known and popular superheroines, this will be the first film to center on the fan favorite character, who “first appeared in DC Comics in 1967 as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon in ‘The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!’ Variety writes.
The project, which currently has no other producers attached, “originated in the past month.” So, it seems like things are moving quickly, thankfully — female-led films about caped crusaders are long overdue.
Two months before DC (finally!) announced a “Wonder Woman” movie and Marvel responded with a “Captain Marvel” adventure, Whedon was asked about the dearth of superheroines on the big screen. The “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” co-creator was admirably blunt in his response: “It’s a phenomenon in the industry that we call ‘stupid people.’” He continued, “There is genuine, recalcitrant, intractable sexism, and old-fashioned, quiet misogyny that goes on.” “There’s always an excuse,” he explained. “You hear ‘Oh, [female superheroes] don’t work because of these two bad ones [‘Catwoman’ and ‘Elektra’] that were made eight years ago.’”
While we’ll always rally for women directors to get the high-profile, big-budget gigs they are so often passed over for — especially if the gig in question centers on a superheroine — Whedon has spent his career depicting nuanced and empowering female characters. He famously conceived “Buffy” after watching “a lot of horror movies that starred pretty blonde girls who walk into alleys and get killed”; Buffy would be a girl who “could walk through an alley and take care of herself.” If a man is going to direct the Batgirl film, we’re thrilled it’s Whedon, who has never shied away from celebrating the strength of women and calling out sexism.
Whedon’s “Avengers” movies are the two highest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe projects of all-time. Combined, they’ve made over $2.9 billion worldwide. His work on the small screen includes creating “Dollhouse,” “Firefly,” and “Angel.”
DC’s “Wonder Woman,” starring Gal Gadot as the Amazonian warrior, hits theaters June 2. The film is directed by Patty Jenkins (“Monster”). “Suicide Squad” actress Margot Robbie will topline DC’s “Gotham City Sirens,” which centers on famous female villains from the DC universe including Robbie’s Harley Quinn. No word on when to expect the David Ayer-directed project. Marvel’s “Captain Marvel,” led by Oscar winner Brie Larson, is scheduled for release March 8, 2019, but a director hasn’t been announced yet. Based on a shortlist that became public last summer, it seems that a female director is being sought to tell Carol Danvers’ story.
