Joss Whedon to Direct New ‘Batgirl’ Movie
Joss Whedon is directing the first-ever standalone Batgirl film. The project, the newest installment of Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe, will also feature other Gotham characters, Variety reports.
The studio hasn’t announced any casting information or a timeline for the movie, which Whedon will reportedly write, direct and produce. The filmmaker/comic book author – best known for creating several fantasy/supernatural TV series, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – previously wrote and directed 2012’s The Avengers and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron for Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Batgirl debuted in 1967 as Barbara Gordon, daughter of Gotham police commissioner “Jim” Gordon, in Detective Comics #359, “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!” Other characters assumed the role of Batgirl over the years, and DC began publishing two comics devoted to the crime-fighter, Batgirl and Batgirl and the Birds of Prey, last year.
Warner launched its DC Extended Universe with 2013’s Man of Steel, followed by two critically panned 2016 titles, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. The fourth installment of the DC series, Wonder Woman, hits theaters June 2nd. Justice League is out November 17th, with Aquaman following in December 21st, 2018.
In 2015, Whedon spoke to Rolling Stone about his decision not to make another Avengers film, despite the obvious temptations.
“They very sweetly asked me and I’m like, really? No.” he said. “It would set me for life – and that life would be about five years long. It’s only going to have more characters and be longer and be a bigger movie. That doesn’t mean it can’t be great; a part of me is desperate to do it. Because I still have enormous love for these characters and want to shepherd them through all other things. But the fact of the matter is, it’s been over five years really since I created something. I mean, I created the S.H.I.E.L.D. show, but based on their universe, you know.”