According to Variety, Joss Whedon will write, direct, and produce a still untitled Batgirl film for Warner Bros. as part of its DC Extended Film Universe. Whedon, who helped shape the Marvel Cinematic Universe directing The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, is no stranger to strong female characters, having created television’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dollhouse.
Batgirl first appeared in DC Comics in 1967 as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon. Twenty years later, Batgirl would be shot by the Joker in the acclaimed series Batman: The Killing Joke, paralyzing her from the waist down. She would eventually take on the mantle of all seeing all knowing computer hacker Oracle. Since then she has appeared in live action form in the 1960’s Batman television series, portrayed by Yvonne Craig, as well as the craptastic 1997 film Batman & Robin, although Alicia Silverstone play not Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, but rather Barbara Wilson, Alfred’s niece (?!). Dini Meyer portrayed the Oracle version of Barbara Gordon on the short lived Bird of Prey television series, although the series included flashbacks of the character’s history as Batgirl.
Batgirl will be added to the other DC films Warner Bros. has slated, including the upcoming Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Aquaman. Also in the works is Gotham City Sirens,” a spinoff to “Suicide Squad” with Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn character; The Batman, starring Ben Affleck with Matt Reeves directing; a Shazam film and a Black Adam spinoff starring Dwayne Johnson, and films based on Flash and Cyborg.