Ricky Church on Jena Malone’s role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice…
After the release of the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition trailer, fans have been going over the glimpses of new footage the trailer showed off. One particular image is piquing curiosity: the shot of Jena Malone speaking to Lois Lane at what appears to be The Daily Planet. Malone’s role has long been kept under wraps and she was originally going to appear in the theatrical version of the film, but had to be cut almost at the last minute. Since then her role has remained a mystery, but many fans thought they knew whom she was playing. Her appearance in this trailer opens up speculation once again, however, so let’s take a look at the characters she could end up playing.
Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle
Arguably the most likely case, Jena Malone could end up being Barbara Gordon, daughter of Commissioner Jim Gordon of the GCPD. Barbara eventually became one of Batman’s many sidekicks, Batgirl, and fought alongside him and Robin to protect Gotham City. Fans have believed this particular rumour for a long time now and it has on a couple occasions been ‘confirmed’ to be true. Even while people thought she would be Barbara, there was also a lot of speculation over whether or not this would be before or after her encounter with The Joker.
In Alan Moore’s graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (which is to be adapted as an animated movie later this summer), The Joker paralyzed Barbara, effectively ruining her career as a crime fighter. However, Barbara didn’t let paralysis stop her and became the computer hacker Oracle. As Oracle, she went on to help the Justice League protect the world, coordinating their missions, protecting their identities and uncovering the plans of various villains.
Now why is she talking to Lois at the Planet? Could she be undercover for Bruce Wayne? Barbara Gordon famously has red hair while Malone’s is blonde in this scene (of course, it could be a wig, nor would it be the first time a character’s physical appearance was slightly changed either).
Carrie Kelley
Similarly to Batgirl, its long been rumoured Malone is playing The Dark Knight Returns’ Robin, the young teenage girl Carrie Kelley. Carrie took on the Robin mantle to help Batman’s renewed crusade against Gotham City’s gangs and rogues gallery. Zack Snyder is a huge fan of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns and was heavily influenced by that story in his characterization of Ben Affleck’s Batman and, of course, the title fight between the two heroes. If that is her in the trailer, she could be undercover at the Planet as I theorized with Barbara as well.
Cat Grant
One other character could provide the reason as to why Malone is talking to Lois. It could be Cat Grant, one of the Planet’s reporters and often gossip columnist. At one point Grant and Clark Kent even dated each other briefly and she spent a lot of time in her early career trying to be as good (and as famous) a reporter as Lois. Malone’s admiration of Lois in the trailer could definitely point to Grant.
Currently Cat Grant is a main character on the television series Supergirl as the head of a worldwide news corporation and Supergirl’s boss played by Calista Flockhart.
Vicki Vale
Another possibility is a reporter who originated from the Batman comics, Vicki Vale. Vale worked at the Gotham Gazette and had an on-again-off-again relationship with Bruce Wayne. The last time the character appeared on film was in 1989’s Batman portrayed by Kim Basinger. Again, if Malone is playing Vale it would make sense as to why she has a clear admiration for Lois, though it is doubtful they would apply a romantic history between Vale and Bruce due to the age gap between Malone and Affleck.
Now this next one may be a bit far fetched and you can thank Flickering Myth’s own James Garcia for planting this inside my head, but it could prove true as well. My last possibility for Jena Malone’s role is someone who is mostly unconnected with Superman or Batman’s group of characters, but…
Dinah Laurel Lance/Black Canary
That’s right. A wholly surprising move would be if Malone played Dinah Laurel Lance before she becomes the Black Canary. Its almost clear Malone is wearing a blonde wig and Lance is well known for wearing a wig when she dons her costume. Since so much of Batman v Superman built up the DC Extended Universe with its Justice League cameos it would be unsurprising if Snyder included another character connected with the greater DC universe. Black Canary also is a core member of the Birds of Prey in Gotham City, led by Oracle and serving alongside Huntress.
This is a bit of a leap, but would be a cool way to extend (no pun intended) the DCEU. And while she’s never worked at the Planet comics, it wouldn’t be the first time a character’s backstory was slightly altered. Smallville, for instance, had Black Canary work as a radio show host while in Arrow she’s worked as a district attorney. Speaking of Arrow, Black Canary was unceremoniously killed off just a few weeks ago, leaving the door wide open for her to be used no problem on the big screen.
Those are all my theories on who Jena Malone could really be playing in the Ultimate Cut. Who do you think she is?
Ricky Church
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Originally published June 3, 2016. Updated November 29, 2022.
