Back in October 2014, it was confirmed that The Hunger Games series star Jena Malone had been added to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it was never revealed who she was playing. Two choices amidst the speculation have gotten the most attention. Early rumors indicated she was playing Carrie Kelley, the Robin featured in The Dark Knight Returns, while other reports said she was playing Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl/Oracle. With only a couple weeks until the movie’s release, director Zack Snyder is still staying mum about her, but it looks like he's officially struck those heroines off the list.
Despite being cut out of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s theatrical release, Malone’s scenes will be added back to the movie’s "Ultimate Edition" home release. That’s why Snyder wouldn’t elaborate on who her character is to EW aside from eliminating two candidates. He said:
I think we should keep it private, but it’s nothing that’s been talked about. She’s definitely not Robin or Batgirl. I’m happy to say that.
There were two factors that made it seem possible that Malone was playing either Carrie or Barbara. One, the actress was rocking dyed-red hair for the movie, the trademark shade of both characters. Second, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is giving moviegoers a Batman who’s been crimefighting in Gotham City for over 20 years, so he’s had plenty of time to work with several sidekicks. There’s still a chance that either of these characters could appear in the DCEU (like that Batman solo movie), but it won’t be Malone playing them. Since her scenes were cut from the final cut, that means her character apparently wasn’t crucial to the main story, but don’t count Malone out of not appearing in a future movie altogether, especially if she is someone from the comics.
Malone isn’t the only mystery character who’s been speculated about in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Halt and Catch Fire’s Scoot McNairy is playing someone being kept on the down low, and while rumors stated he was playing an older Jimmy Olsen, the latest report says he’s someone who was crippled during Superman and Zod’s fight in Man of Steel and is enlisted by Lex Luthor. Unlike Jena Malone, McNairy still appears to be in the final cut, so we’ll find out who he is in theaters. The movie also has plenty of other participants involved, including three Justice League cameos, so moviegoers will have enough people to keep track of during the story.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice arrives in theaters On March 25, but you can check out Malone’s scenes when the R-rated "Ultimate Edition" arrives on Blu-ray later this year, featuring not only more intense action scenes, but several other cut characters being reincorporated with Malone’s mystery player.
