Joss Whedon Will Write and Direct a Live-Action Batgirl Movie

Joss Whedon is one of the most beloved Hollywood creators to genre fans, whether because of his strong female characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, his Star Wars-of-the-Wild West series Firefly, his ability to perfectly blend humor and action in The Avengers, or because of the countless other projects he has helped write, direct or produce over the years. Whedon’s decision to step away from the Marvel Universe after The Avengers: Age of Ultron (he’s still an executive producer on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) because he was burned out was both understandable and a little depressing to fans.

Whedon is returning to the superhero genre, but not to The Avengers and not to Marvel. According to Variety, Whedon will be writing, directing and producing a live-action Batgirl movie for Warner Bros. as part of the DC Extended Universe. This is huge news for Whedon fans, but also for female fans of the genre, in general, who have been clamoring for greater representation on the big screen. The movie will be the first Batgirl-inspired movie since the character’s creation in the 1960s and only the second female-led superhero movie in the DCEU after this year’s Wonder Woman opens on June 2nd.