10 Possible Villains For Joss Whedon’s Batgirl

Fresh off the news that Joss Whedon will be helming Batgirl for the DCEU, the first reaction was, who'll be Barbara Gordon? In a recent chat with Variety, the director suggested the possibility of an unknown being cast in the cowl and cape. Fair enough. But another crucial question that we haven't been asking is, who'll be the main villain? Now, Babs has had quite the history and crossed paths with many antagonists in her time as both Batgirl and Oracle. Depending on the direction that Whedon wants to take the character, some will be better suited to the film than others. Whichever villain is selected though, we at least know that the project is safe in the hands of a comic book movie visionary like Whedon. However, that doesn't mean we're going to stop speculating about who he may choose to feature here. And so, on that note, we've racked our brains and picked 10 possible villains for Batgirl to face in her solo film. Check them out on the next page and if you think we've missed someone important, please do let us know in the comments section below. Killer Moth Granted, this is a silly choice. Yet, it's the most comic book accurate of the lot. Babs' first appearance in Detective Comics #359 involved her saving Bruce Wayne from being kidnapped by Killer Moth, so the loop would be closed if it happened in her first solo outing as well. Unfortunately, Killer Moth is only killer in name. He's an incredibly lame villain, and I doubt he'd translate well to the big screen. Mind you, there's always the possibility that the studio swaps him out for Firefly, or combines the two as a new character, because they do look similar. Frankly, the former and latter both make a lot more sense than a man dressed as a giant moth. Honestly, does that strike fear in you, or laughter? While Killer Moth is the least likely of options, it's possible that there could be a nod to the character in some form or shape in the film. Sure, he's about as cool as Condiment King, but he's still a vital part of Batgirl's formative years. Lady Shiva The League of Assassins is a huge part of the Dark Knight's history. While I'd expect Damian Wayne, Talia, and Ra's al Ghul to appear in a Batman movie first, there's an opportunity to introduce Lady Shiva a little bit earlier. Shiva's current comic book history links her closely to the League, and this should be the same direction taken by Geoff Johns and company. As one of the fiercest fighters in the DC universe, she'd prove to be an adversary that would require Babs to improve her skills or use her brains to take her down. I don't know about you, but I'd absolutely love to see a female-driven martial arts film in the DCEU. Can you imagine the two of them battling along Gotham's rooftops? It'd be a crazy exciting scene. Clayface Even though he's recognized more as a hero than a villain now, Clayface began his career as a shape-shifting bad guy. He's also one character that could benefit greatly from Whedon's sharp writing and direction. Moreover, the use of Clayface allows for a lot of fun (and endless cameos) in the film. Depending on the tone that Whedon wants to take, which I imagine to not be too different from the current Batgirl comic book series, the character could provide the necessary lightheartedness and humor as well. You want fun and jokes in the DCEU? Well, here it is. He might not be considered a quintessential Batgirl villain, but he'd certainly make a terrific one. Let's make this one happen, Joss. Pretty please? Huntress This might seem like a strange choice, but there's a method to the madness here. Helena Bertinelli became the vigilante Huntress to take down her mob father and his empire. Despite her noble intentions, her approach has been described as angry, violent, and unpredictable, leading to numerous run-ins with other heroes because of it. Putting her up against Babs would be an excellent way to introduce her to the DCEU, inspire her to change her ways, and set in motion a future Birds of Prey film. If Warner Bros. is dedicated to going all in on this DC universe, they need to think of the next few phases of movies, including this one. Huntress will not only give Batgirl the fight of her life, but she could also end up being her best friend. Heck, while they're at it, why not introduce Black Canary as well? Let's make a party of it! The Scarecrow Considering the pivotal role that Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow played in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, it's unlikely he'll be facing the Bat in the DCEU. That said, he'd definitely make a fearsome and lethal adversary for Batgirl. Now, now, before you get angry, hear me out for a second. Imagine the film follows a PTSD Babs, who's just recovered from the Joker shooting and paralyzing her. She struggles to adjust to life as a hero again and has serious doubts about herself. After encountering the Scarecrow in battle, his fear toxin forces her to relive the trauma and battle her past, giving her incredible odds to overcome. Her strength and resolve would pull her through in the end - and she'd not only defeat Crane, but also her inner demons. Ta-da! It's a dark direction, for sure, but her ultimate perseverance would make for a triumphant story. Not all tales in the DCEU need to be bright and fluffy, but there needs to be some hope at the end of it all. Giving Barbara her strength back after her nightmarish ordeal is as hopeful as it comes. The Penguin Do we need to see the Penguin on the big screen again? Absolutely. What sort of a question is that? As one of Batman's most famous foes, he deserves another shot after his last appearance in 1992's Batman Returns. Sadly, over the past couple of years, Penguin hasn't been too involved in Batman storylines - well, in the comics at least - acting more as a supporting character than a main baddie. Batgirl could be the perfect vehicle for him to shine like the scoundrel he is, though. If it does happen, I just hope he brings back his army of rocket penguins, because those were badass. It's easy to see the plot in this one, too. Oswald Cobblepot is a slippery character and he doesn't like to get his flippers dirty. Having him pull the strings and letting others do his dirty work is his modus operandi, so he could take on a Kingpin-type of role here, where he causes trouble from a distance. So, it's up to Barbara to put a stop to it. Sounds like a good story to me. What about you? James Gordon Jr. If Barbara is the symbol of all the good in Jim, James Gordon Jr. is the epitome of Gotham City. As a psychopathic villain who wants nothing more than to destroy his family, he's the Joker to Batgirl's Batman. He's done a host of despicable things to his sibling, and he shows no sign of letting up - much like Halloween's Michael Myers and Laurie Strode. Whedon may be drawn to this character since he's a prime example of nature trumping nurture. Both Barbara and Jim Jr. experience the same upbringing, with a father who does everything for truth and justice, yet one ends up becoming a rotten apple while the other fights crime. There's a powerful, riveting story waiting to be told here. It's bold and will undoubtedly upset those who criticize the DC Extended Universe for being too dark, but it's still a potential goodie. A Se7en-style Batgirl film? Hell yeah, I'm in! David Cain Depending on how deep Warner Bros. plans on going into the Batman mythos, using David Cain as a villain could setup a chain of events that would introduce his daughter, Cassandra Cain, into the universe. Also, he's got quite the history with the League of Assassins, which opens up the door for that as well. One storyline that Whedon could borrow from is No Man's Land, where Two-Face hires Cain to murder Jim Gordon, but it's Cassandra who stops him. Naturally, much would have to change for the big-screen version; plus, I don’t think No Man's Land will be the desired route here. However, having Babs help Cassandra is an intriguing premise that deserves to be explored. Cain's relationship with his daughter also acts as the polar opposite of Babs and Jim's, which is another subplot that someone like Whedon will relish. Family drama allows for heightened tension, making the story more realistic and relatable. Two-Face The one thing I hope Whedon does is make the Batgirl film a crime story in Gotham City. It doesn't need to have end-of-the-world stakes, only a simple narrative where there's criminal activity that needs to be stopped by the heroine. The ideal villain for this type of tale is Two-Face. Give him some henchmen, a contraband delivery on the docks, crooked cops at the GCPD, and we're ready to rock and roll. It'll be like a live-action version of Batman: The Animated Series, and not one of us would complain about that. Additionally, this story presents an opportunity for Babs to work with her father, Jim, without him knowing it's her under the cowl. We'd see the dynamic of their relationship as cop and vigilante, as well as father and daughter at home. Knowing J.K. Simmons' filmography, the quips and tongue-in-cheek dialogue will be pure gold. The Joker This pick is the most controversial, considering the brutal history between the characters. At the moment, it's still unclear whether Babs has been paralyzed by the Joker, if it's yet to come, or if The Killing Joke will be ignored in its entirety. Nonetheless, it would be a serious statement of intent if the DCEU decides to include the Clown Prince of Crime as the main villain in this film. If the execution is done right, it could allow Barbara an opportunity to get her own back and some form of retribution for the despicable things he's done to her in the past. Alternatively, it could prepare her to become Oracle in future Batman films. It's a long shot here, especially since The Killing Joke is criticized for its misogynistic depiction of the young heroine. But in the hands of someone like Whedon, there's a chance to honor the inspiration but also to do it right. It might be a stroke of genius that'll change Batgirl forever.