Batgirl star short-list includes Isabela Merced, Zoey Deutch & Leslie Grace

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Warner Bros. and DC Films are looking to move forward with the Batgirl movie and Deadline has reported that the studio will soon begin testing actresses for the title role later this week. According to the outlet, those set to test for the part of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl include Isabela Merced (Sweet Girl), Leslie Grace (In the Heights), and Zoey Deutch (Zombieland: Double Tap). Deadline also notes that Haley Lu Richardson (Five Feet Apart) has been in the mix, but that she may have bowed out.

It was reported earlier this year that Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directors behind Bad Boys for Life, had been tapped to helm the Batgirl movie. Birds of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson has penned the script, and she has previously teased that she'll be remaining faithful to the character while also giving fans something new.

There’s a little piece of me in every character I write. They start with me, and then they take on a life of their own. [Barbara Gordon's] been through so many iterations. There’s certain characteristics of hers that are always there that I’m excited to develop further. Whenever I’m writing a character who’s based on someone who’s existed in a previous form, whether it’s comics or a movie or anything, I always hope to bring something new to them and bring them to life in their own way, even if they fairly iconic like Harley Quinn or Batgirl. I think fans want the original, to be honest, but they also want to see something they haven’t seen before.

It also seems that the Batgirl movie is being planned as an HBO Max exclusive, which some people aren't thrilled about. "With Batgirl, we hope to take the audience on a fun ride and see a different side of Gotham," said producer Kristin Burr. "Christina’s script is crackling with spirit. Adil and Bilall have an excited and joyous energy which is infectious, making them the perfect filmmakers for this Batproject. And I’m just psyched I get to be part of the DC universe, which is super cool." As far as Batgirl goes, could you see Isabela Merced, Leslie Grace, or Zoey Deutch taking on the role?