HBO Max is moving full-steam ahead on their original DC Comics projects.
The streaming service already has John Cena’s Peacemaker series shot to completion, expected to debut sometime early next year. Aside from the The Suicide Squad spin-off, development on the HBO Max’s Green Lantern Corps has been moving steadily, with American Horror Story’s Finn Wittrock penciled in to play leading Lantern Guy Gardner.
It's not all original shows at HBO, however, as the streamer has been developing a Batgirl movie.
The solo Barbara Gordon flick will bring Ms. Marvel directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi in to helm the project, and has been testing actresses for the lead role this week.
While plot specifics are still unknown, Batgirl now has its leading woman.
HBO MAX FINDS ITS BATGIRL
Barbara Gordon has been cast.
As reported by The Wrap, In the Heights star Leslie Grace is tapped to portray Batgirl in the upcoming HBO Max film of the same name.
The Batman spin-off film was reported to be testing actresses earlier this week for the titular role. Names such as Isabela Merced, Zoey Deutch, and Haley Lu Richardson were all in consideration for the role, but it ultimately went to Grace.
Outside of film, Grace is an acclaimed musician. She has received three Latin Grammy nominations and is a former Lo Nuestro Tropical Female Artist winner (2016).
HBO MAX: AN ORACLE FOR YOUNG TALENT
Home Box Office Entertainment has always had an eye for acting prospects, and this casting further exemplifies that.
This is a channel that helped blossom young A-List talents such as Kit Harrington, Zendaya, and Emilia Clarke. HBO revolutionized blockbuster television throughout the 21st century, but just as the saying goes, they needed to evolve with the times. While this means pivoting their focus to streaming, HBO is clearly retaining their talent scouting skills.
Leslie Grace is most known for her music career, as she has permeated her sound through Latin-American radio stations across the world throughout the 2010s. Grace only has one film credit to her name, this summer's In the Heights, but her performance encapsulated executives enough to pull the trigger on her for Barbara Gordon.
She may be a relative unknown to movie fans, but Grace's work ethic cannot be denied. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly earlier this summer, Grace emphasized that she was "taking notes every day" from veteran actor and co-star Jimmy Smits.
Batgirl is currently without a release date and is slated to stream exclusively on HBO Max.
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