Here Are 17 Actresses Who Could Play Batgirl For Joss Whedon
Last week, it was revealed thatBuffy the Vampire Slayercreator andThe AvengersdirectorJoss Whedonis going to write and direct aBatgirlmovie. It feels like a pitch-perfect match of storyteller and character – Whedon’s voice feels perfectly honed to tell the story of Barbara Gordon, the daughter of the Gotham City police commissioner who decides to take her father’s war on crime to the next level.
Of course, it’s still early days yet. Whedon has not cast his Batgirl. And that’s why we’re here. We have 17 suggestions.
Alison Brie
It’s not clear how old Joss Whedon’s Batgirl will be. Is she a college-aged newbie or a seasoned crimefighter who’s been hitting the pavement alongside Batman for some time? Alison Brie is a little bit older than some of the names on this list, but if they want a more experienced Batgirl in her 30s and not a teen learning the ropes, look no further! TheCommunityandMad Menstar is the complete package: funny, dynamic, and capable of wringing real emotion out of ridiculous situations. Barbara Gordon is a character defined by how she overcomes her tragedies, utilizing grace, pluck and good humor. It’s easy to imagine Brie bring that toughness, and that wry comedy, to the part. (Jacob Hall)
Alexandra Daddario
After being part of the ensemble of fantasy heroes in thePercy Jacksonfilm series, Alexandra Daddario deserves another chance at a big blockbuster franchise. Showing that she can hold her own when facing giant earthquakes inSan Andreasand a psycho murderer inTexas Chainsaw 3D, Alexandra Daddario is much better than the movies she’s been part of over the years, and Batgirl feels like the right opportunity for the actress to spread her wings.
Aside from having the right signature look to pull of Batgirl, she’s also got the right personality. Daddario can be tough when the situation calls for it, but she also has a brighter, bubbly side that fits the personality of Barbara Gordon perfectly. If you need any further convincing, just check out her supporting turn inTrue Detectiveor her guest star appearances inThe Last Man on EarthandNew Girl. The woman has range, and it would be fantastic to see her thrown in a cape and cowl. (Ethan Anderton)
Mackenzie Davis
Barbara Gordon is a notorious “badass librarian,” and Mackenzie Davis has proven herself to be partial to the role of the bespectacled nerd with a sharp tongue. TheHalt and Catch Firestar has nailed the brassy girl genius part of Batgirl on that AMC show, but also shows signs of depth and nuance in her appearance onBlack Mirror’s “San Junipero” episode.
Batgirl is nothing if not complex, especially if the film adapts the “New 52” version of Batgirl, in which Barbara has been miraculously cured of her paralysis she received at the hands of the Joker, and sheds her Oracle identity to return to the Batgirl mantle. She stumbles, faces resistance from her family and friends, and often has to fall back on her smarts quite a bit, but this wearier, vulnerable version of Barbara could easily be inhabited by Davis. (Hoai-Tran Bui)
Zoey Deutch
When I first took notice of Zoey Deutch, she was helping to breathe life into Richard Linklater’s enormously entertainingEverybody Wants Some!!One thing was clear, even from her limited screen time: this girl was going to be a star. I had a similar revelation when I got drunk enough to watchVampire Academyon Netflix and watched, jaw agape, as this girl held her head up high and delivered a memorable action hero in an otherwise lackluster movie. Between these two movies, she has everything you want in a Batgirl directed by Joss Whedon. The former proves that she can be emotional and down-to-earth, while the latter showcases her ability to rattle off goofy superhero witticisms with the best of them. Mash them them together andpresto! You have a cinematic Barbara Gordon. (Jacob Hall)
Karen Gillan
When you need a tough but charismatic redhead to play a character like Batgirl, how can you not think of Karen Gillan? Sure, the actress might be held back by the fact that she’s already locked into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nebula, the sister ofGuardians of the Galaxymember Gamora and daughter of future universe destroyer Thanos. But if Joss Whedon can move from Marvel to DC to direct this movie, there’s no reason that actors and actresses can’t do the same, right?
Karen Gillan is best known in nerdier circles for her turn as Amy Pond onDoctor Who, a role that should be reason enough to let her suit up as Batgirl. Combine that with the skill she’s shown as the villainous alien sister inGuardians of the Galaxy, combine it with some of the charm she displayed on the sorely underrated seriesSelfie, and you’ve got yourself an ideal big screen version of Barbara Gordon. (Ethan Anderton)
Scarlett Johansson
It’s been well reported that Scarlett Johansson and Joss Whedon both wanted to make aBlack Widowmovie. But with the phase three schedule fully booked, it’s seeming less and less likely that she’ll get to play a comic book superhero in a solo movie. Would it be possible for Scarlett to jump over to DC with Whedon? It’s unlikely, but it’s certainly fun to think about. If Joss wanted to re-team with Johansson badly enough, I doubt Warner Bros would say no to having one of the biggest female actresses on the planet as the star of this film. Heck, we already know she can handle the action and superhero gear. (Peter Sciretta)
Rachel Keller
She may be relatively new on the scene, but Rachel Keller is a movie star waiting to happen. She’s already won over television fans, first playing Simone Gerhardt onFargobefore lending her talents toLegion. It’s the latter that makes her an obvious fit for Barbara Gordon – she’s already played a Marvel superhero on the small screen, so why not a DC superhero on the big screen? In all seriousness, Keller has everything Joss Whedon tends to look for in a leading lady. She can radiate sweetness one moment and shift into total badass mode without missing a beat. She’s emotionally engaging while also being laugh-out-loud funny. She’s a fresh talent, someone in desperate need of a film series to call her own. So why not? (Jacob Hall)
Zoë Kravitz
We may be at the beginning of seeing what Zoë Kravitz is truly capable of as an actor. The more substantial her part is, the more of an impression she leaves. Admittedly, she hasn’t been given enough to do in a few big studio films, namely theInsurgentmovies, but her work inGood KillandBig Little Liesshows off a promising talent.Good Killcould’ve been a nothing role for her, but she’s memorable and always convincingly empathetic. She only has half the screen time of other actors inBig Little Lies, but she still feels every bit as compelling and real. It’s a very good performance, one that leaves me curious to see what she’ll do next…and that’s the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel, which could be her biggest role in her largest film to date. Maybe that sequel will give her more exposure and an opportunity to do more good work, making her an even more obvious candidate for Batgirl. (Jack Giroux)
Rose Leslie
Rose Leslie may not be the first name to come to mind for Barbara Gordon, but as we saw in her performance as the ill-fated Wildling Ygritte onGame of Thrones, the actress excels at portraying a skilled warrior who has a sense of humor. That humor is crucial not only to the role of Batgirl, but for the entire DCEU moving forward – the next wave of films are looking to offset some of that darkness with a bit of a lighter touch, which is what makes Joss Whedon such a great hire to write and direct this movie.
Leslie has built-in geek cred from her time onGoTand the physicality to replicate Batgirl’s high-flying gymnastic abilities on screen. And while I’ve always thought the way an actor captures the essence of a well-known character is more important than any physical resemblance they may share, aesthetic purists would appreciate Leslie’s red hair spilling out from underneath a cowl as Batgirl fights her way across Gotham City. (Ben Pearson)
Sometimes, making a casting choice like this comes down to a vibe, and for me, Levy simplyfitsin the DCEU. Of all the choices we’ve listed here, Levy is the one I can most easily picture sitting at a dinner table opposite J.K. Simmons' gruff Commissioner Gordon. I also feel like she could hang with Ben Affleck’s Batman if need be, though I’d actually rather see what Batgirl can do on her own instead of having Batman swoop in to complicate things or cameo just to connect the dots between movies.
Personally, I think Jane Levy is the best equipped to handle Whedon’s witty dialogue, and since movies likeThe Evil DeadandDon’t Breathehave already put her through the physical wringer, we know she has the capacity to pull off the kinds of action sequences Whedon favors (Look at Summer Glau’s fight scenes inSerenityfor an example of the kind of martial-arts-fueled action he might have in mind for this character.) Levy has it all: fun delivery, a hard-edge, and a vulnerability she may need to tap into if Whedon decides to explore Batgirl’s PTSD following being shot by the Joker. (Ben Pearson)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
What about Mackenzie Davis' “San Junipero” costar Gugu Mbatha-Raw? She’s no stranger to playing supporting characters in blockbusters, fantasy epics and fairy tale adaptations since her breakout role in 2013’sBelle, but Mbatha-Raw often outshines many of the leading stars of these films, and deserves a spotlight of her own.
The thing about Mbatha-Raw is that she’s so talented that her characteristics are hard to pin down. A cheery, charismatic Batgirl? See Mbatha-Raw inBlack Mirror. A simmering, subdued Barbara Gordon? SeeBelle. Warner Bros. (and possibly Whedon) could go in any direction for Barbara, and Mbatha-Raw would be capable for any of them. If you’re going to point out to be that J.K. Simons has already been cast as Jim Gordon andcan’t possiblyhave Mbatha-Raw as a daughter, know that Mbatha-Raw is mixed race and anything can happen. Honestly, I just want Mbatha-Raw to be a superhero. (Hoai-Tran Bui)
Maika Monroe
Maika Monroe is poised to break out in a big way. Someday. The star ofThe GuestandIt Followshas won over genre fans, but mainstream success has eluded here. Let’s be honest:Independence Day: Resurgencedidn’t do anyone any favors. Still, her presence in that baffling sequel doesn’t dilute her awesomeness in any way. Make no mistake: Maika Monroe is terrific, and she’s totally comfortable being terrific in outrageous genre fare where she’s tasked with treating ridiculous situations as if they’re the most serious and important business in the world. So put her in a superhero suit and watch her soar. (Jacob Hall)
Imogen Poots
We’re lucky enough to see the star ofGreen Room,Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, andFrank & Lolaa few times a year, conquering all kinds of roles. Whatever the genre or story is, she’s always different and always game. Poots can go from role to role and disappear each time. Even when Poots isn’t in a particularly enjoyable movie, she does her job and delivers a fine performance. Her charismatic presence has helped elevate a few studio projects, likeNeed for SpeedandThat Awkward Moment. She can do drama, she can do comedy, and asGreen Roomshowed, she can play a force to be reckoned with. So naturally, I think she’d make a killer Batgirl. (Jack Giroux)
Britt Robertston
After playing the feisty, tough young girl who saved the world from future annihilation inTomorrowland, Britt Robertson still needs a big, meaty role to sink her teeth into. She’s dabbled in romantic comedy and even Nicholas Sparks cheesiness, but knowing what Robertson brought to the table as the strong, smart lead in the aforementioned Brad Bird-directed sci-fi adventure, she would make a great addition to the DC Expanded Universe, and she might even brighten it up a bit. Robertson is bound to get even more attention once her Netflix seriesGirlbossdebuts, and it would be outstanding if her next step took her into superhero territory as Batgirl. (Ethan Anderton)
Gina Rodriguez
The human ray of sunshine that is Gina Rodriguez would be a much-needed breath of fresh air in the dark and oppressive DCEU, whose only hope for a reprieve from grayscale isWonder Woman. But as much as Wonder Woman is austere, Batgirl is affable. And no one does affability better than theJane the Virginstar, whose soapy, satirical show hinges on Rodriquez’s empathetic performance. The Latina actress would bring more color to the already diverse DC movie lineup (one of the best aspects of the DCEU) and add another layer of complexity to a character whose family expects her to pursue a more intellectual career while she yearns to fight for the cause on the streets.
Rodriguez is ready to don the cape too — any cape really — telling E! News, “I would love to be a superhero—that’s all I want to do is play a superhero … And let’s be real, I could kick some ass. We all know I could kick some ass.” (Hoai-Tran Bui)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Much like Ramona Flowers herself, thinking of Mary Elizabeth Winstead playing Batgirl is a dream come true. Having shown grit and attitude in bothScott Pilgrim vs the Worldand10 Cloverfield Lane, you couldn’t ask for a more resilient or tough actress to play the DC Comics superheroine. Aside from her penchant for playing strong female characters, Winstead also has extensive range. If you don’t believe me, watch her in the indie dramaSmashedand then give the CBS seriesBrainDeada watch. We’re only going to see more great stuff from her when she appears in the third season ofFargo, and I hope she ends up on the shortlist of hopefuls to play Batgirl after that. (Ethan Anderton)
Shailene Woodley
We know Woodley can pull off the stunts in a film likeBatgirlsince we’ve seen her do similar things in theDivergentfranchise. But the actress is coming off of some tremendous work on HBO’sBig Little Lies, where she balanced introspection, ferocity, and agony as her character in that limited series grappled with traumatic memories of being assaulted. If Whedon isn’t given full creative freedom, he may have to use hisBatgirlmovie as a way to ease the DCEU into the “heart, humor, and heroics” they’re trying to incorporate into future projects. That meansBatgirl– which centers on a character who, in the comics, was assaulted by the Clown Prince of Crime – might still have a bit of a dark edge to it, and Woodley might be just the person to explore Barbara Gordon’s darker headspace as she transitions from the tech-savvy Oracle back into a more action-centric crimefighter. (Ben Pearson)
