'Batgirl': J.K. Simmons Returns To The DCEU For HBO Max Film

Zack Snyder‘s “Justice League” featured “Spider-Man” actor and Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Jim Gordon, and we all assumed that would be the end of his run in the DCEU as the studio attempted to pivot with Matt Reeves‘ “The Batman” adding Jeffrey Wright (“No Time To Die,” “Westworld“) as the new Jim Gordon and likely will appear in the HBO Max series. When Warner Bros. and HBO Max announced plans to turn their long-gestating “Batgirl” movie into a streaming project, there had been an assumption they could be doing their own thing, nope.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that J.K. Simmons will play Gordon again in the superhero film, which confirms that “Batgirl” will take place directly in the mainstream DCEU and could allow various established characters from “The Suicide Squad” and “Birds of Prey” to appear.

Simmons will be playing the father of Leslie Grace‘s (“In The Heights“) Barbara Gordon and would suggest the film will attempt to flush out more rogues and characters from the “Batman” franchise. However, it’s unknown if we’ll see Ben Affleck‘s Bruce Wayne (there had been hints we’ll see Michael Keaton‘s version) or if they’ll attempt to include Margot Robbie‘s, Harley Quinn.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are directing from a script penned by screenwriter Christina Hodson (“The Flash,” “Birds of Prey“). The directing duo recently worked with Marvel Studios for “Ms. Marvel” and tackled the box office hit “Bad Boys For Life” at Sony Pictures.

Simmons is expected to appear as J. Jonah Jameson in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” and there have been hints that he could show up in other Sony/Marvel projects like “Morbius” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.”

Could we potentially see DCEU incarnations of Poison Ivy or Catwoman in “Batgirl” to help tease “Gotham City Sirens“? Only time will tell.