DCEU: Ranking The Batgirl Actress Shortlist From Worst To Best

Joss Whedon's DC debut is close to finding its heroine...

by Danny Meegan
Katherine Waterson Batgirl
DC Comics

With Wonder Woman's success turning the tide for the DC Extended Universe after a slew of critical duds, Joss Whedon's impending Batgirl movie now has the unenviable task of hitting or exceeding the high bar set by Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot.

But firstly - who will be the director's leading lady?

If a recent leak on the aptly titled DCEU Leaks subreddit is to be believed, Warner Bros are currently looking at nine actresses and wish to fill the role before this year's San Diego Comic-Con - which kicks off on 20 July - so they can make the surprise announcement on stage.

In no particular order, the shortlist contains Elle Fanning, Olivia Cooke, Bella Thorne, Katherine Langford, Margaret Qualley, Jane Levy, Emma Roberts, Haley Lu Richardson and Naomi Scott, with Langford currently rumoured to be the frontrunner.

It's an interesting list, boasting a variety of newcomers and familiar faces, and if Joss Whedon's strong history with female characters is any indication, he will make the right choice.

But - taking into account previous work and acting ability - who seems like the right choice on the surface?

Let's decide.

9. Bella Thorne

Amityville The Awakening Bella Thorne
Dimension Films

Known For: Shake It Up, Blended, The Duff.

Kicking off the list with a choice that seems wholly unlikely, Thorne - best known for the Disney Channel series Shake It Up - has not displayed even half of the talent and screen presence an actress would need in order to lead a big-budget, high-profile superhero blockbuster.

Most of her movie roles have been as a supporting player, and in truth, she's more likely to pop up in an edition of Heat Magazine than Total Film, since most of her popularity stems from her active social media presence and involvement with other celebrities, and not her acting.

Chances Of Her Being Cast: Slim.

Whedon has mentioned that he'll probably be looking for a newcomer to play Batgirl and Thorne certainly fits that bill, but since being a newcomer is the only thing Thorne has going for her in terms of suitability for the part, we're confident she won't be cast. 2/10

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Danny has been with WhatCulture for over ten years, and is currently Doctor Who Editor and WhoCulture Channel Manager, overseeing all of WhatCulture's Whoniverse coverage. In 2022, he took charge of WhoCulture and has grown it into the biggest Doctor Who channel on YouTube, and one of the biggest Doctor Who communities on the web full-stop. He has been writing and video editing since his early teens, and first got a taste for content creation after making his own Doctor Who trailers, off the back of a burning obsession with the Matt Smith era of the show. Like many his age, he first got into Doctor Who with the 2005 revival, but has since gone back and fallen in love with the classic years too. If you need someone to recite every Doctor Who episode in order, or to give you a random factoid about the making of Gridlock, Danny is the person to ask!