Joss Whedon To Direct A 'Batgirl' Movie

By Ned Ehrbar

(CBS NEWS) – Joss Whedon is making the jump from Marvel to DC to bring a classic female superhero to the big screen.

The man behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Avengers is close to signing a deal with Warner Bros. to direct a standalone Batgirl film, which will focus on the supporting character from the Batman series.

The new project will be overseen by Warner Bros. president and chief content officer Toby Emmerich, though no producers have yet been attached, according to Variety. No release date has been planned.

While Batgirl is a famed DC Comics character, Whedon previously directed The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron for rival Marvel Entertainment.

(credit: Len Trievnor/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Batgirl first debuted in comics in 1967, the alter ego of Barbara Gordon, daughter of Commissioner Gordon. On television, Batgirl was portrayed by Yvonne Craig (pictured) on the series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. In 2002, Barbara Gordon was played by Dina Meyer in the short-lived WB network series Birds of Prey.

The character has only appeared on the big screen once before, played by Alicia Silverstone in 1997's Batman and Robin.

"Batgirl" (credit: DC Comics)

Batgirl would be the second female-fronted superhero film from DC, following the upcoming release of director Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman on June 2.

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