Batgirl Casts First-Ever Trans Character In DC Film

Barbara Gordon officially has a roomie, and the news marks the first-ever casting of a openly transgender character in a DC comics feature film.

The forthcoming Batgirl movie, courtesy of HBO Max, is set to explore the origins of the titular superhero (played by Leslie Grace), with anticipation growing ahead of its release on the platform.

While the team have remained tight-lipped about plot details, fans have been drip-fed teasers in the lead up, including a sneak peak at Batgirl's suit for the first time.

In the latest update, the movie has officially found it's Alysia Yeoh in Ivory Aquino, best known for starring in Tales Of The City and When We Rise, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Yeoh is the best friend of the iconic Batgirl and was first introduced more than a decade ago in the pages of a 2011 issue of Batgirl written by Gail Simone.

Both Aquino and her character are trans, marking a historic move for the DC universe as it continues its efforts to become more inclusive.

The actor joins the likes of J.K. Simmons, who's confirmed for the role of Gotham City police commissioner Jim Gordon, Brendan Fraser and Michael Keaton, who's reprising his role as Batman, making up a stellar cast.

Filming is currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland, and one lucky fan managed to catch a glimpse of Fraser in action last week, where he can be spotted casually strolling out of a burning building.

Check it out:

The footage was uploaded to Twitter by journalist Craig Williams, and was quick to do the rounds. Unfortunately, the actor appeared to just be in his street clothes, although the glimpse was enough to send excitement skyrocketing.

'You know how long I’ve been waiting for Brendan Fraser to be back on the big screen. It’s about time', wrote one excited viewer in response, while another said how they were 'so happy I'm gonna cry'.

Elsewhere in the DC universe, after being teased in the highly-anticipated trailers, Michael Giacchino's theme for the Robert Pattinson-fronted The Batman has finally been unveiled ahead of the flick's March 4 release.

A release date for Batgirl is yet to be confirmed, though it's expected to hit screens sometime this year.

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Topics: DC Comics, Film and TV, LGBTQ

Chloe Rowland

Chloe Rowland is a Sub Editor and Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Salford with a BA Multimedia Journalism degree in 2019 but has continued to use the fact she has a Blue Peter badge as her biggest flex.