A rumored Batgirl shortlist has made its way online courtesy of the DCEU Leaks Subreddit and it includes some great actresses, along with some actresses who simply look great with red hair.
The list does not, however, include my personal favorite and frontrunner of my heart Lindsey Morgan. That, combined with the fact that the leak is of the “a friend of mine” variety, means that I’m personally taking this list with a major grain of salt.
However, it’s still worth discussing since everything we’ve heard so far makes it sound as though WB would like to fast track Batgirl and with SDCC coming up soon, it would make sense for them to make a big announcement.
Here’s the rumored shortlist, as seen on reddit:
Katherine Langford
Known for: 13 Reasons Why
Why she could be Batgirl: Allegedly the frontrunner for this iconic role, Langford is wildly popular right now because of her work on 13 Reasons Why. WB could be looking to capitalize on that popularity and bring over a generation of viewers who were captivated by Langford’s turn as Hannah. 13 Reasons Why certainly showed Langford as being capable of shouldering a lead role and showcased her talent as a nuanced female lead.
Elle Fanning
Known for: Super 8, Neon Demon, The Beguiled, her fantastic Vogue cover
Why she could be Batgirl: Said to be a close second to Langford, Fanning is easily the most famous of the listed actresses. I would also venture that she’s one of the – if not the – most talented as well. She’s also already worked with current Batman Ben Affleck on his film Live by Night. While not anything close to the unknown that Joss Whedon has said he’d like to hire, her impressively long list of well-regarded work and serious acting skills would give Batgirl an air of respectability that many other actresses wouldn’t be able to bring.
Olivia Cooke
Known for: A&E’s Bates Motel, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Why she could be Batgirl: Cooke did fantastic work on Bates Motel as it’s most underrated and underutilized character, and was absolutely stellar as the eponymous dying girl Rachel in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Both roles showcased her broad range and depth as an actress, highlighting an on-screen charisma and presence that would make her a pretty awesome Batgirl.
Bella Thorne
Known for: Disney’s Shake it up!, Freeform’s Famous in Love, dating Scott Disick for a hot second
Why she could be Batgirl: She…has red hair? Honestly, having her on this list is what makes me question its validity the most. I watched all ten episodes of Famous in Love and despite being the lead role, she was easily the weakest part of the entire ensemble. So while she certainly has the look, I question whether she has the required acting talent to pull it off.
Margaret Qualley
Known for: HBO’s The Leftovers, The Nice Guys
Why she could be Batgirl: While 2016’s The Nice Guys was her first major movie role, Qualley has been turning out good performances on HBO’s The Leftovers since 2014. She’s rumored to be in running behind Langford. As a relative unknown, Batgirl would be her first leading role. However, it’s good to keep in mind that we would’ve said the same thing about Wonder Woman and Gal Gadot – and that turned out rather well.
Jane Levy
Known for: Don’t Breathe, ABC’s Suburgatory
Why she could be Batgirl: Rumored to be another actress being closely eyed for the role, Levy is likewise a popular fancast for just about every red-headed role in the DC comics world. Luckily, she not only has the look for the role, she also has the talent to bring this popular DC character to the big screen. With a screen resume that doesn’t quite match up to her level of talent, she could still fit the bill of being the relative unknown that Joss Whedon is looking for.
Emma Roberts
Known for: Fox’s Scream Queens, FX’s American Horror Story, your favorite tumblr reaction gifs
Why she could be Batgirl: Like Fanning, Emma Roberts likewise has an impressively long resume of acting experience. She has also been eyed by WB before, having been initially offered the role of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad — though she ended up rejecting it to star in Scream Queens. While far from an unknown, her work experience and proven talent would bring a lot to the role.
Haley Lu Richardson
Known for: Split, Edge of Seventeen, Columbus (upcoming)
Why she could be Batgirl: While she played supporting roles in both Split and Edge of Seventeen, Richardson nonetheless gave us an easy, captivating performance that could translate well to a debut as Batgirl. Her lead role as Casey upcoming film Columbus generated a lot of positive buzz at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, which WB might likewise want to capitalize on.
Naomi Scott
Known for: Power Rangers
Why she could be Batgirl: Her role in Power Rangers sets her apart as the only actress on this list who has already played a superhero. As pink ranger Kimberly, Scott has already shown that she can believably hold her own in an action sequence – which is important if you’re going to play Batgirl. While it’s pretty likely that Power Rangers won’t become the franchise that Lionsgate had initially hoped for, Scott herself may go on to become the face of the DCEU’s newest female superhero film franchise.
However, there is one name that I think should be on this list:
Lindsey Morgan
Known for: The CW’s The 100
Why she could be Batgirl: I fully recognize this as a fancast that is influenced by own love of The 100 . However, I do think that Lindsey Morgan ticks off a lot of boxes that would make her an ideal Batgirl. While she’s beloved as Raven Reyes to many a CW watcher, she’s still basically unknown to most of the viewing audience – which means Joss could still cast her as the relative unknown he’s hoping for.
She’s one of the strongest actors on the already highly stacked cast of The 100, imbuing the badass Raven with the strength, vulnerability, intelligence and snarkiness that Batgirl is likewise well-known for. Finally, if her instagram is anything to go by, she’s not afraid of hitting the gym — which means she’d take well to what I’m sure will be some brutal physical training to get ready for the role.
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.