The new HBO Max movie set in the Batman universe finally has its lead actor. Rising In The Heights star Leslie Grace has reportedly been chosen for the role of Barbara Gordon, otherwise known as Batgirl.
Rumors had begun to circulate around the web in the last few days that producers were narrowing down the list of who will star in Batgirl. Those in charge of the production had supposedly narrowed the list down to four in recent days. Grace was supposedly squaring off against Isabella Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold), Zoey Deutch (Vampire Academy), and Haley Lu Richardson (Split). It appears the up-and-coming actor got the nod.
Deadline reported on Wednesday that DC Films and Warner Bros. arrived at the titular character and decided to go in a different direction for Commissioner Gordon's daughter than some fans might have expected. The publication said that the studio was already very high on Grace following her work in In The Heights and was actively looking for other projects to put her in. Now she'll be starring in her first superhero flick.
However, Grace won't be playing Barbara Gordon on the big screen. Warner Bros. and DC Films made the decision to make Batgirl an HBO Max exclusive. Unlike other big movies that launched on HBO Max during the pandemic, this movie isn't due out for quite some time but also doesn't appear to be launching in theaters alongside the pay channel release. Announcements about the movie haven't ruled out eventually heading to theaters, but it absolutely won't debut there and the idea that it might eventually move from the streaming service to the big screen is thought to be small by industry insiders.
The plot for Batgirl has been kept under wraps for the most part, but it is known that Barbara Gordon will take on the alter ego of Batgirl. While others have put on the cowl in the expanded DC Comics universe, she's the woman best known as the caped heroine.
One aspect of the upcoming plot that is raising the most questions is whether or not Batgirl will be paralyzed below the waist, as has been the case in several of the cartoon and comic depictions of the character. In some story arcs, she uses technology to overcome that issue. It's also possible the HBO Max movie could be set before she suffers the injury. Of course, considering Grace is Afro-Latina, it's possible this Batgirl movie will tell a tale about a different Barbara Gordon altogether.
Source: Deadline