The role of Batgirl in the developing solo film from DC Films and Warner Bros. is being sought after by several actresses and four who will test for it have just been named.
Deadline reports their sources say, “execs are expecting to test a group of actresses starting this week for the highly coveted title role of Batgirl.”
While there was no comment from the studio, the talents the sources expect to test are Haley Lu Richardson, Zoey Deutch, Isabela Merced, and Leslie Grace – all performers in the 26 year-old range with several credits to their name.
Zoey Deutch has had notable turns in recent memory in Zombieland: Double Tap, Set It Up, and Dirty Grandpa. Also a recurring figure on Netflix’s series The Politician, she is the daughter of Back to the Future and Howard the Duck star Lea Thompson.
Leslie Grace has been on Warner and DC’s radar for some time now. She was rumored to be in the running for Cyclone in Black Adam before that part went to Quintessa Swindell. She recently starred in the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical In The Heights.
Isabela Merced, like Grace, was said to be up for Cyclone as well and is a singer/actress.
She is best known for playing Dora the Explorer in the live-action spinoff of the cartoon, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, but also boasts roles in Transformers: The Last Knight and Sicario: Day of the Soldado.
Haley Lu Richardson is very active, starring in dramas Five Feet Apart, The Edge of Seventeen, and the Freeform series Ravenswood in the last few years.
She also starred in the controversial HBO Max Original feature Unpregnant which may put her in Warner’s periphery alongside Leslie Grace.
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Deadline, however, mentions Richardson might have already bowed out of the process before testing for whatever reason.
The publication also confirms Batgirl will debut on HBO Max as one of the first DC heroes to do so with their first solo film.
The movie is expected to be directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life) from a script by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey).
Plot details are scarce but a rumor of a casting call hints someone besides Jeffrey Wright and JK Simmons will be cast as Barbara Gordon’s dad, the Police Commissioner, James Gordon.
Said casting call reportedly contained additional indications Firefly, revamped as a 60-year-old disgruntled firefighter, was being set up as the piece’s villain.
Batgirl doesn’t have a release date yet but tell us what you think of these potential casting choices below.