Of the numerous movies in development for the DC Extended Universe, a fair number of them are connected to the Batman mythos, including Batgirl. So far Barbara Gordon has only appeared in one live action movie, 1997's Batman & Robin, and I don't need to tell you how that movie was received. So it's safe to say that a Batgirl movie would likely provide a much better representation of the character, and with the superhero movie genre more popular than ever, now's a great time to finally shine the spotlight on the heroine. However, rumor has it that before she headlines a standalone adventure, Batgirl will be introduced to the DCEU in Birds of Prey.
Earlier today, it was reported that Cathy Yan is in talks to direct the Birds of Prey movie, which was announced in November 2016, written by Christina Hodson and will either start shooting late this year and early next year. According to Variety writer Justin Kroll, the reason that DC and Warner Bros want to fast-track Birds of Prey over Suicide Squad 2 (which was previously rumored to begin production in the latter half of 2018) isn't just because of Hodson's script, but because they're interested in bringing in Batgirl sooner rather than later. It's similar to how T'Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther, was introduced to the MCU in Captain America: Civil War and then starred in the Black Panther movie almost two full years later.
It's worth taking this information with a grain of salt, but if Birds of Prey does officially enter production sometime within the next 12 months, then it would make sense to feature Batgirl in it. Along with being one of Batman's most trusted allies in Gotham City, whether she's suited up as Batgirl or behind a computer screen as Oracle, Barbara Gordon is also one of the founding members of the Birds of Prey, with Black Canary and Huntress rounding out the main trio. Batgirl is popular enough that a lot of people unfamiliar with the comics are probably aware of her existence, but it would be interesting for see her fighting alongside other heroines for her first DCEU appearance. Once that introduction is out of the way, then we can follow along with Barbara Gordon as she battles the forces of evil on her own.
No plot details for Birds of Prey have but it will also feature Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, though it's unclear if Joker's squeeze will work with the starring heroes or team up with them. As for Batgirl, her standalone movie was announced in March of 2017, and originally Joss Whedon was attached to write and direct. However, after a year, Whedon was unable to formulate a good story, so he departed the project. Christina Hodson is now writing a new Batgirl script, but a replacement director hasn't been found yet.
Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for the latest updates regarding Batgirl's cinematic future. If you're interested in learning what other projects are in development for the DCEU, look through our DC movies guide.
