Casting Batwoman & Batgirl
All this talk about Batwoman being a part of the next CW Arrowverse crossover has got me thinking about how it would be fun to cast Batwoman just like it was fun to cast all the Green Lantern characters I cared about. Let's be clear, Batwoman is different than Batgirl. Here's Batwoman:
And here's Batgirl:
Got it? Good! Now let's give 10 options for each character and remember that I'm thinking of these characters in a cinematic way, not TV... Sorry CW.
Batwoman
Actor:
Clea DuVall
Why, Though:
One thing I like to pride myself on is the diversity of my casting choices. One thing I need to get better at is looking outside of heterosexual actors. I remember Batwoman from the Bruce Timm era of Batman cartoons, but what I've learned since is that an aspect of Batwoman's life is her sexuality. Instead of casting a bunch of straight women in the role, why not try to provide some openly gay actor choices? Enter Clea, a woman I've always seen around in films but recently won me over in the amazing Veep. Her stoic nature seems like it would go well with this Vigilante and she is able to play comedy as well.
Actor:
Ellen Page
Why, Though:
It's time I recognize I'm technically more of a man than a boy, hence why I would cast the similarly aged Ellen Page as Batwoman! She has flirted with comic book movies with James Gunn's Super but I'm all about her work in Juno and the third best Christopher Nolan movie! Why not give her a shot at Kathy Kane if they ever used her in films.
Actor:
Eva Green
Why, Though:
Realisitcally I've only ever loved Eva in Casino Royale. However, she has proven she can do genre with her appearance in the 300 prequel/sidequel/sequal and her new role as the woman who has replaced Helena Bonham Carter in Tim Burton movies. All joking aside, Eva has a great onscreen presence and has done her fair share of action.
Actor:
Freida Pinto
Why, Though:
Even though I joked about it with Jake, I did like Slumdog Millionaire. Freida has really been riding on the goodwill of garnered by being a part of that movie and the only great Planet of the Apes reboot film. This choice is more to prove a point. If the 80s and 90s accepted Arnold as an all american hero with an Austrian accent, why not give Freida some looks and get a whole generation used to their heroes having different accents.
Actor:
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Why, Though:
I may not love everything Gugu is in... word to Cloverfield Paradox and A Wrinkle in Time, but I always enjoy her in whatever I see her in. As I always say, why not reward me liking an actor by giving them a super hero to play? Make sure everyone gets used to having to pronounce Gugu's name instead of just referring to her as the woman from the really touching episode of Black Mirror!
Actor:
Léa Seydoux
Why, Though:
Of the movies I've seen with Lea in them (aka I've never seen her French movies) I've always thought that, regardless of her amount of screentime, she was always a memorable part of the movie she was in. I first was made aware of her in my favourite(or second favourite depending on the day) Tarantino movie, but she's been building a case to have a starring role in a comic book movie ever since. If you're worried about her accent, I'd bring up the same argument I did for Freida and insist upon it even more here.
Actor:
Maggie Q
Why, Though:
There's something about Maggie Q that just screams cool vigilante. Maybe that's just me. I'll own that. But I'd be down to watch Maggie Q become Batwoman. I don't really have anything else to add here. Maggie has a great action film C.V. Do your GOOGLES... or click on her highlighted name.
Actor:
Rosamund Pike
Why, Though:
Every reason I would like to see Rosamund as Batwoman can be found in Gone Girl. I don't mean all the evil genius stuff, but check that dedication and plotting, THO! Everything about that performance can be translated into a vigilante role that is engaging. Plus she was Ben's wife in that movie and that's gotta be worth some kind of Bat-verse cred, right?
Actor:
Samira Wiley
Why, Though:
Name something Samira hasn't been amazing in? I remember her in the Jonah Hill comedy, The Sitter, but she for sure took off in Orange is the New Black, spent some time on You're the Worst, and now is part of Pauline's favourite show, The Hand Maid's Tale. You see where I'm going with this... get her a super hero she can kill it with on the big screen! As I mentioned earlier, I first knew about Batwoman from the movie Mystery of the Batwoman where one of the (i think) three women taking on the mantle was black. So don't come at me with race bending and stunt casting. There is a well known precedent for a black woman playing Batwoman. You can now retroactively add this to the Gugu entry.
Actor:
Sarah Paulson
Why, Though:
I remember Sarah really getting a reaction out of me during 12 Years a Slave then me thinking she was amazing, in the Fx O.J. show. I don't watch the horror story shows because I'm afraid and I liked what she did on Feud! What I'm saying Sarah is a dope actor that I even liked her in Ocean's 8 even though I didn't fully understand how she was the fence for the particular heist they pulled off. Get her in the Batwoman suit so we can continue to rock with Sarah Paulson!
Batgirl
Actor:
Bonnie Wright
Why, Though:
Here's a secret, I don't remember the Harry Potter movies because I am not in love with the books or movies. I just figured I'd gain the respect of the Harry Potter fans in my life then immediately anger them with this sentence. The point is, I'd be cool with Bonnie playing Barbara. She doesn't have any baggage attached to her and she's got the classic red hair look so... cool!
Actor:
Eiza Gonzalez
Why, Though:
I liked Eiza in Baby Driver a lot. If you want a confident young actor to imbue the role with an almost reckless feel to give the audience some sort of concern only to have Barbara become a much more concentrated and disciplined vigilante then let's go with Eiza Gonzalez!
Actor:
Holly Taylor
Why, Though:
I have really enjoyed watching the development of Paige's character over the years of one of the best shows on TV, The Americans. Holly could be the trepidatious Barbara. The Barbara that knows she can't just sit back while Batman does all the work and maybe starts with more heart than skills but really grows into the role.
Actor:
Jamie Chung
Why, Though:
I know what you're thinking. Jamie can't be Barbara, she married Ed Helms in Hangover 2, she's too old! Don't worry, I think she still reads as young enough to play Barbara Gordon. Oh you were more worried about Jamie not being a believable blood relation to J.K. Simmons' Commissioner Gordon? I know people hated it in Fantastic Four, but I think stories that involve adoption always add an extra layer of potential conflict or pathos.
Actor:
Jane Levy
Why, Though:
Unlike Bonnie, I'm actually familiar with Jane's work and I think she has just the right amount of plucky in Suburgatory (aka the warning sign that ABC was capable of great comedies like Fresh off the Boat) to pull off a great Barbara Gordon. I don't know if she'd even want to take on the role, but she's got the red hair and she is a very strong actor who did go genre with the Evil Dead remake.
Actor:
Kimiko Glenn
Why, Though:
Granted, I only know her through Orange is the New Black, but I feel like she could really pull off the wide eyed wonder of a you new vigilante. Again please see my Jamie Chung entry or remember that some people marry people and have children with people who aren't the same race as them. OH LIKE KIMIKO's PARENTS!
Actor:
Kristen Stewart
Why, Though:
I don't really associate Kristen with the Twilight movies, mostly because I've only seen one of those and I've definitely seen like 5 other Kristen movies. I want to like Kristen. She's definitely more than the awkward interviewee everyone makes her out to be. I feel like she's always involved in these cool indie films that I never get around to seeing so why not hire her for a cool big budget movie that I will definitely see based on it's connection to my favourite comic book character?
Actor:
Lily James
Why, Though:
Another actor from Baby Driver, I guess I did like that movie. I feel like Hollywood wants me to love Lily James, and I guess I'm ok with that. If she's not already on the short list of women to take on Batgirl, I'd be surprised. Why not follow up Cinderella with Batgirl and be a part of my enjoyment of Disney and Batman related media?
Actor:
Naomi Scott
Why, Though:
I didn't remember Naomi in The Martian, even though I really liked that movie. I'm almost embarrassed to make it clear that I became a fan of Naomi in the Power Rangers movie that didn't launch 6 sequels but was fine. I'll watch Naomi do anything, especially since she's about to be a new generation's Princess Jasmine. There is just something about Naomi that I can't describe that makes me feel like she'd be a great Batgirl.
Actor:
Yara Shahidi
Why, Though:
People adopt or have mixed race children. Cool? Let's proceed. There is something inherently likeable about Yara. I only just recently watched her in that Jennifer Garner movie about butter and of course I watch Black-Ish and Grown-Ish, so I feel confident in saying that it's easy to root for Yara. She has a way of coming off as confident while also revealing flashes of insecurity that I think would make for a great Barbara Gordon.
-YG