Five Actresses Who Should Be Considered to Play Batgirl

Following the success of Wonder Woman, Warner Bros. is planning several more DC movies starring women. Among them is Batgirl, written and directed by Joss Whedon. Not much is known about this movie yet, but it is reportedly inspired by Gail Simone’s New 52 run. And it has been listed in WB’s most recent DC slate, so it’s likely coming sooner than later.

There are plenty of actresses who fit the role of Barbara Gordon, who has never really been adapted in a live action movie before. (We don’t count Batman and Robin‘s Barbara “Wilson.”) Here, we list five actresses who we would love to see as Batgirl in DC Films’ universe.

Camila Mendes is known for starring as Veronica Lodge on The CW’s Riverdale. Veronica has been a highlight on the Archie Comics adaptation, no doubt fueled by Mendes’ performance. With Riverdale bringing many talented young actors into the spotlight, it’s only a matter of time before they land bigger roles elsewhere. For starters, how about Mendes as Batgirl?

Mendes has the acting chops for Barbara Gordon, and at 23, she’s at a good age for a potential multi-film deal. The only concern would be how she would work around her Riverdale schedule, which could get in the way of her doing other projects. And it’d be shocking if the show ended anytime soon. But if they can make it work, then Mendes would be a great choice for Batgirl.

Maika Monroe got her big break in 2014 with two horror films, The Guest and It Follows. Since then, she’s done mostly smaller movies, with her sole blockbuster film being 2016’s Independence Day: Resurgence. It wouldn’t be surprising if Monroe goes on to land a superhero movie role sooner or later, and Batgirl would be a good choice.

Monroe is a very talented actress, and she has some action chops in movies like The Guest. Additionally, she does not have anything scheduled beyond this year, so she could fit Batgirl in without any major conflicts. If a comic book movie role is something she’s interested in, then she should definitely be considered for Barbara Gordon.

Naomi Scott played the Pink Ranger in last year’s Power Rangers reboot, serving as one of the film’s most memorable characters. Scott is also playing Jasmine in next year’s Aladdin, which will introduce her to an even bigger audience. But after that? She’d be an awesome choice to play DC Films’ Batgirl.

Scott is a good actress, and she has experience with shooting action blockbusters. Since Power Rangers flopped and is unlikely to get a sequel, it’d be cool to see Scott play another superhero at another studio. Also, her schedule after Aladdin is clear so far, so Batgirl can easily fit in if it’s shooting anytime soon.

Emma Stone has been a frequent fancasting for Batgirl over the years, and for good reason. She played Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man duology, and she has since turned her focus to smaller projects. Last year, she won the Oscar for Best Actress for La La Land, where she gave a truly fantastic performance. Imagine how great she’d be as Batgirl?

Stone has proven to have strong acting chops over the years, and she has comic book movie experience to boot. Casting Stone in Batgirl would be a huge get for DC Films. She has a few other projects on the way, including Disney’s Cruella, so she’ll likely be busy for a couple years. But if Stone is interested in returning to the superhero genre someday, then Batgirl would be a perfect choice.

Now onto our top choice. Hailee Steinfeld has proven to be an extremely talented actress, putting out strong performances in films like True Grit and The Edge of Seventeen. She will also get her first real blockbuster role this year in Bumblebee. And she actually expressed interest in playing Batgirl recently. Um, let’s make it happen?

Steinfeld would fit the role of Barbara Gordon like a glove. She actually wants the role, and she’s a really great actress. (It’s terrible how her Edge of Seventeen performance didn’t spawn any legitimate awards talk.) And her schedule seems to be clear after Bumblebee. If nothing else, we really hope that Steinfeld will at least be considered for Batgirl.

Honorable Mentions: Anya Taylor-Joy, Anna Kendrick, Madelaine Petsch, Jane Levy, Shailene Woodley

Who do you think should play Batgirl in DC’s upcoming movie?