Batgirl may be one of the most beloved heroes in the DC Universe, but the trusted ally of Batman is only now getting her first live-action solo film. While audiences still have to wait a while until Leslie Grace makes her first appearance as Batgirl, a test screening for the film reportedly took place recently and the response was supposedly positive, especially toward Michael Keaton's Batman.
Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a script penned by Christina Hodson, Batgirl has a lot of mystery surrounding it. Because it also stars Keaton as Batman and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, fans are confused about where Batgirl fits in the DC film universe considering the former character is from Tim Burton's Batman universe while the latter was seen in Zack Snyder's DC Extended Universe.
Still, it appears fans won't have to worry too much about continuity issues if the response to the alleged first Batgirl test screening is true. According to The DC Syndicate, Keaton's Batman is a "badass" in the film despite sharing a no-kill rule with Grace's Batgirl. While Black Canary is not in the HBO Max movie, a poster featuring the character is supposedly seen in the film, suggesting Warner Bros. and DC are leaving the door open for other heroes to exist in whatever universe Batgirl will take place in. Also absent is Nightwing, but fans of Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle will be pleased to know she is purportedly the one who holds the Catwoman title in the Batgirl universe.
Little else was revealed about the film, but the ending will supposedly be visually reminiscent of the first Batgirl concept art that was revealed at DC FanDome in 2021, with Barbara Gordon getting a second suit as well. Meanwhile, Ben Affleck's Batman is allegedly laying claim to the "original timeline," suggesting Batgirl may take place in an alternate universe that is separate from the DC Extended Universe. All of these details remain unverified, and fans hoping The Flash film would clear up some questions about the DC Extended Universe's confusing future are going to have to wait a little longer.
Because The Flash was originally going to be released before Batgirl, fans assumed the time-traveling antics of Barry Allen would explain why there are now two versions of Batman (Affleck and Keaton) or why Simmons' Commissioner Gordon is suddenly working with Keaton's Caped Crusader. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and other difficulties prompted Warner Bros. to delay The Flash until the summer of 2023.
While Batgirl does not have an announced release date at this time, the film is still expected to hit HBO Max toward the end of 2022. Still, if it's true that Warner Bros. is considering a theatrical release for Batgirl, perhaps the film can still be pushed back until after The Flash. Then again, fans are getting used to the multiverse concept by now, so perhaps the filmmakers won't have to explain why various characters from different DC universes are featured in Batgirl.
Batgirl is expected to be released on HBO Max in late 2022.
Source: The DC Syndicate