Word has emerged that Warner Bros. will be auditioning actors this weekend for the lead in the upcoming DC Comics movie Batgirl. And the studio has reportedly narrowed down the finalists to Zoey Deutch, Leslie Grace, and Isabela Merced. Haley Lu Richardson was also rumored to be in the mix, but she may have declined.
It isn’t clear WHICH DC Universe Batgirl will be set in– the mainstream one, with J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon and Ben Affleck as Batman, or the one in Matt Reeves’ upcoming The Batman, in which Jeffrey Wright will play Commissioner Gordon, and Robert Pattinson will be Batman.
There have been multiple Batgirls in the comics, but the most famous is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of James Gordon. It should be pointed out that two of the actors reportedly under consideration are Caucasian and two are Latina. Simmons is, of course, Caucasian, so Deutch and Richardson could potentially play his biological daughter. But while Grace and Merced are women of color, neither are black like Wright is. The filmmakers could also establish that Barbara is adopted.
Or there is the possibility that this Batgirl won’t be Barbara Gordon, but rather Cassandra Cain or Stephanie Brown or even Bette Kane. It’s even possible that this character could be a NEW Batgirl, just as a new Batwoman has been introduced on The CW’s show.
If you aren’t familiar with these rising young stars, here’s a little info.
Zoey Deutch:
Deutch may be best recognized for playing Infinity Jackson on the Netflix series The Politician, created by Ryan Murphy, a TV guru with a knack for spotting promising young talent like Evan Peters and Emma Roberts. Some may remember her as Maya on The Suite Life on Deck. On the big screen, Deutch was a pure delight as Madison in Zombieland: Double Tap. She also starred in Ed Sheeran’s music video “Perfect.” In 2017, she won the Shining Star Award from the Dallas International Film Festival and in 2020, she won the Next Generation of Hollywood honor from the Hollywood Critics Association.
Leslie Grace:
Grace is an established Latin music artist, having collaborated with Meek Mill, Becky G, CNCO, and others. She made her film debut in Warner Bros.’ In the Heights, portraying Nina. Grace received acclaim for her performance in that film and she already has a relationship with WB, which could give her an edge.
Isabela Merced:
Merced (formerly billed as Isabela Moner) may be best known for playing the lead in the live-action film version of Dora the Explorer. Among her other credits are Transformers: The Last Knight, Instant Family, and Netflix’s Let it Snow. She will star in the upcoming remake of Father of the Bride. Like Grace, she is also an established Latin pop singer.
Haley Lu Richardson:
Richardson may or may not still be in the running for Batgirl, but either way, she starred on the series Recovery Road and starred in the acclaimed teen movie The Edge of Seventeen as well as in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller Split. More recently, she starred opposite Cole Sprouse in the romance Five Feet Apart.
Regardless of who lands the lead role, it is believed that Batgirl will be released on HBO Max and not in theaters as previously reported. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys 4 Life) are attached to direct from a script by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey [and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn]). Kristin Burr is producing.
Which of these young actors would make the best Batgirl? Or is there someone else you’d like to see under the cowl?
