We may be seeing more of J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon soon enough, as the Oscar-winning actor is currently in talks to reprise the role inBatgirl. Currently in development at Warner Bros. as an HBO Max exclusive, theBatgirlmovie stars Leslie Grace (In the Heights) as Barbara Gordon, the commissioner’s daughter who fights crime on the streets of Gotham City at night under the Batgirl alias. It’s set for a 2022 release with pre-production underway.
Christina Hodson, who pennedBirds of Preyalong with the upcoming movieThe Flash, wrote the screenplay forBatgirl.Bad Boys for Lifehelmers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are directing with Kristin Burr producing. Not much has been revealed about the plot ofBatgirl, but with Simmons in talks to return, the movie seems to be a part of the DCEU. It will be the first appearance of Barbara Gordon and Batgirl in this particular cinematic universe.
J.K. Simmonspreviously played Commissioner Gordon in 2017’sJustice Leagueand appeared in new material in this year’s extended cutZack Snyder’s Justice Leagueon HBO Max. He also toldEntertainment Tonightin 2019 that he had signed on to play the role for three movies and was hoping to get the chance to return in future projects. It would appear that he will get his wish withBatgirlproviding the perfect opportunity for him to be featured in more of a major role as the main character’s father.
“I know that I signed up to do three movies, potentially, and I hope there are going to be two more,” Simmons stated. “WhereverCommissioner Gordonmight end up appearing again, I’m open to it… I hope there’s more of that in the future. If the bat phone rings, yeah, [I’m ready to go.]”
Meanwhile, Simmons is very well known for his role in Marvel movies as J. Jonah Jameson, Peter Parker’s boss at the Daily Bugle. He is set to reprise his role in the upcoming sequelSpider-Man: No Way Home. Simmons, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role inWhiplash, is also set to appear asI Love Lucyactor William Frawley in the upcoming biopicBeing the Ricardos. We last saw him in Amazon’sThe Tomorrow Waras Chris Pratt’s estranged father.
Various actors have played live-action incarnations of Commissioner James Gordon in DC projects over the years. On the big screen, he was previously played by Pat Hingle in Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’sBatmanmovies. Gary Oldman took over the role for Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy andJeffrey Wright will debut as Gordon in the upcoming movie The Batman. Ben McKenzie starred in the central role as a younger James Gordon in the Batman prequel seriesGothamfor five seasons on Fox.
There’s no word yet on whenBatgirlwill start production, but the project is reportedly slated for a 2022 release on HBO Max. Until then, fans can look forward to catching Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson whenSpider-Man: No Way Homeis released on May 31, 2025. This news comes to us fromThe Hollywood Reporter.
