Screenwriter Christina Hodson ("Bumblebee") is set to write a "batgirl" movie for the Justice League movie universe, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She also has screenwriting credits on the Naomi Watts thriller "Shut In" and the Rosario Dawson-Katherine Heigl thriller "Unforgettable." The writer also wrote a spinoff movie for the Transformers character Bumblebee that is set to hit theaters on Dec. 21.
History of the movie
Hodson was said to have been writing a movie centered on the DC Comics group Birds of Prey that consists of characters like Batgirl and Harley Quinn.
Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn in "Suicide Squad," was said to be producing and starring in the movie.
Then a solo "Batgirl" movie was to be written and directed by Joss Whedon ("Justice League") with Katherine Langford possibly up for the lead role. However, the filmmaker said in February that he just “didn’t really have a story” and left the movie. THR’s sources add that there was also the idea of backlash ensuing over a male filmmaker taking on a female-led project.
Few women write comic book/superhero movies
Hodson would be the first credited female screenwriter for a DC movie. For superheroes and comic book movies in general, she only joins eight other women credited as screenwriters.
There’s Ilene Chaiken co-writing and developing the story for "Barb Wire," Shell Danielson co-writing "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie," Lauren Faust co-developing the story and co-writing "The Powerpuff Girls Movie," Jane Goldman co-writing "Kick-Ass" and "X-Men: First Class," Michele Mulroney co-developing the story for "Power Rangers," Nicole Perlman co-writing "Guardians of the Galaxy," Theresa Rebeck co-developing the story for "Catwoman" and Amy Keating Rogers co-developing the story for "The Powerpuff Girls Movie."
Not to say women haven’t come close recently.
Writer Stephany Folsom said Marvel gave her a story credit on "Thor: Ragnarok" but the Writer’s Guild denied it.
When it comes to female directors of comic book and superhero movies, there’s even fewer. Lexi Alexander directed "Punisher: War Zone," Patty Jenkins helmed "Wonder Woman" and Rachel Talalay directed "Tank Girl."
But Kelly Marcel has a screenwriting credit on "Venom," Gina Prince-Bythwood is directing "Silver & Black," "Captain Marvel" is co-directed and co-written by Anna Boden and has had writers Liz Flahive, Meg LeFauve, Carly Mensch, Perlman, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet on it at some point. "Wonder Woman 2" has Patty Jenkins in the director’s chair and working on the story and Ava DuVernay is directing "The New Gods" movie.
Time's up.
