Last week it was announced that Joss Whedon has vacated the director’s chair on the planned DC movie Batgirl, with The Avengers and Justice League director stating that: “Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story.”
Well, it seems that Whedon did have one story in mind, and unlike earlier rumours, it wouldn’t have been based on the New 52 version of Barbara Gordon (i.e. post-Oracle), but rather on the character’s first ever comic book appearance in ‘The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!’ from Detective Comics #359 back in 1967.
Written by Gardner Fox with art from Carmine Infantino, ‘The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!’ saw Barbara Gordon attending a charity fancy dress ball, donning a costume inspired by the Caped Crusader. While there, Killer Moth and his Men attack, with Batgirl teaming up with the Dynamic Duo in order to defeat the villain.
SEE ALSO: Has Warner Bros. found a new Batgirl writer… on Twitter?
The character of Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl had been created at the request of William Dozier, creator of the 1960s Batman TV series, and ‘The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!’ served as the inspiration for the 1967 Batgirl promotional short starring Yvonne Craig, before the actress joined Batman for its third season. You can watch said short here…
While it’s unclear how closely Whedon would have stuck to the comic book story line, one would have to assume that Ben Affleck’s Batman and J.K. Simmons’ Commissioner Gordon would both have figured prominently in the movie.
Via Variety
Originally published February 26, 2018. Updated February 27, 2018.
