Stylistic Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn (‘The Neon Demon’, ‘Drive’) has announced that he would like to helm a movie based on DC Comics’ ‘Batgirl’. Refn had previously expressed interest in taking on a ‘Wonder Woman’ movie, but that task went to Patty Jenkins, whose ‘Wonder Woman’ film, starring Gal Gadot, arrives next year.
“God, I would love to make [a super hero movie], it would probably be great fun. I just don’t know when it’s going to happen. I very much enjoy my freedom creatively, but I also would love to make one of those big Hollywood films that costs a lot of money and has a lot of people running around with cell phones and all that insanity.
“What ones are left? You know the one I want to do? I want to make Batgirl. Let’s get Warner working on it.”
Considering Refn’s unique visual style, he may seem like an odd fit for a splashy commercial tentpole movie. Then again, maybe his unique take will bring some freshness to the super hero movie game. And considering that Batgirl isn’t quite an A-list character, maybe that would be a good fit for a different approach.
It was recently reported that Jena Malone was playing Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in ‘Batman V Superman’ but that turned out to be false. Instead, she played a scientist character named Jenet Klyburn and that role was chopped from the cinematic version of the film. Coincidentally, Malone recently teamed with Refn for current film ‘The Neon Demon’. Considering that Malone’s performance in ‘Batman V Superman’ got cut, does it still count? Or could she actually play Batgirl in an upcoming film?
There have been a few different Batgirls in the comics, but the most famous is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Commissioner James Gordon (who will be played by J.K. Simmons in next year’s ‘Justice League’). Barbara later became Oracle, after being paralyzed by The Joker in the graphic novel ‘The Killing Joke’, although whether or not that story is in continuity is disputed. She recently reclaimed her Batgirl identity. She has been a member of the Birds of Prey in both identities and there has been buzz that ‘Birds of Prey’ may have a movie in the works.
At any rate, would you like to see ‘Batgirl’ in a solo movie? Would Refn be a good fit to direct? Would you like to see Jena Malone in the role, or someone else?
Jax's earliest memory is of watching 'Batman,' followed shortly by a memory of playing Batman & Robin with a friend, which entailed running outside in just their underwear and towels as capes. When adults told them they couldn't run around outside in their underwear, both boys promptly whipped theirs off and ran around in just capes.
