DC’s ‘Batgirl’ Movie Lands ‘Birds of Prey’ Screenwriter Christina Hodson

Hodson previously wrote the Harley Quinn “Birds of Prey” spinoff for the studio

Batgirl Movie Christina Hodson
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Screenwriter Christina Hodson has been hired to write “Batgirl” for Warners and DC Films, multiple insiders tell TheWrap.

As TheWrap first reported, Hodson wrote the Harley Quinn “Birds of Prey” spinoff for Warner Bros. and DC Films. An Insider also tells the TheWrap that the studio is high on Hodson’s “Bird of Prey” script and is currently out to directors.

Joss Whedon stepped down as director of “Batgirl” in February, saying in a statement at the time, “Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story. I’m grateful to Geoff and Toby and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?”

Batgirl made her debut in the Batman mythos 50 years ago as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. Since then she has become one of the most popular superheroines in the world. When Barbara Gordon was paralyzed by a gunshot from the Joker in the classic graphic novel “The Killing Joke,” other crimefighters, like The Huntress and Orphan, took up the Batgirl name while Barbara became Oracle, a tech-savvy aide to Batman. Barbara later returned to the Batgirl role, while her assault in “The Killing Joke” was retconned.

Hodson is a hot commodity, as the screenwriter has made the Black List with scripts three times since turning to writing four years ago. One of those — her female-centered sci-fi action spec script “The Eden Project” — sold to Sony and Material Pictures.

Hodson has also written a reboot of “The Fugitive” for Warner Bros. and producer Arnold Kopelson, and wrote “Bumblebee,” the first spinoff of Paramount’s billion-dollar “Transformers” franchise, based on the popular Autobot in the series.

DC die-hards may remember that “Birds of Prey” was also a short-lived series on The WB network in 2002-3, featuring Mia Sara as Harley.

Hodson is represented by CAA, Kaplan/Perrone Ent. and Ziffren Brittenham.

Comments