Batman’s presence in HBO Max’s Joss Whedon being attached to direct until, to the relief of many, he exited the project in 2018. Fortunately, this long-overdue film is moving forward at HBO Max.
Batgirl only recently made headlines again when a new set of directors were announced to be attached to the project. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah - who recently directed The Flash, and is set to be produced by Kristen Burr. Not much is known about this film, except that Burr has said, “…we hope to take the audience on a fun ride and see a different side of Gotham” (via The Hollywood Reporter).
However, this leads to many questions such as whether or not this Gotham will be connected to the one already in place in the DCEU, and thus who the Batman within it will be. These will be issues that cannot easily be glossed over in the film. While Batgirl is more than capable of headlining her own franchise, it remains necessary for Batman to be a part of her story, as it will only serve to enhance the overall film. This is similar to how Joker’s presence in Birds of Prey would have enhanced Harley’s journey toward emancipation.
As Batman often steals the spotlight, it will be important for the film to carefully weave him into the story in a way that does not detract from Barbara’s own journey. After all, this will be Barbara Gordon’s first cinematic appearance, and she deserves her time to shine - but doing this film without any consistent reference or appearance by Batman would do more harm than good. A Batgirl film without Batman risks isolating her story and limiting our understanding of what has influenced her to put on the cowl. Otherwise, these issues will have to be addressed through exposition, which could bog down the film.
Moreover, establishing this Gotham City’s Batman will enhance Barbara Gordon’s journey by giving audiences an understanding of who she is choosing to model herself after. The argument is not that Batgirl is dependent on Batman for narrative , it is about filling out the world in a way that feels natural and organic. This is part of the problem with not introducing such a significant member of the Bat-Family in a Batman film. It forces the project to fill out all the relevant Bat-Family details needed by audiences, such as whether there are other “family” in existence.
Essentially, Batman’s role in the film would be minor but act as a structural base to the overall story. In fact, Batgirl would not have to directly interact with the Dark Knight. His presence alone or the presence of other Bat-Family could serve as a source of tension throughout the film as Batgirl creates her own persona and pursues her own. They could interact in a crucial moment of her investigation where she is told to stay out of Batman’s way. This would provide Barbara an opportunity to stand her ground and prove her worth as a member of the Bat-Family. Whatever the case may be, Batman’s appearance in Batgirl can enhance the overall story while not stealing the spotlight.
