With The Flash delayed until next summer, there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding Batgirl. While the movie will eventually be released, the expectation had been that it would arrive on HBO Max this December, especially as it makes use of a Christmas setting.
Since then, we've heard that Warner Bros. might pivot to a theatrical release for the DC Comics adaptation, news welcomed by fans who feel Barbara Gordon is deserving of the big screen.
The studio has certainly assembled an impressive ensemble, anyway, with Leslie Grace playing the title character, and J.K. Simmons and Michael Keaton reprising their roles as Commissioner Gordon and Batman, respectively. Doom Patrol and The Mummy star Brendan Fraser plays the villainous Firefly, but which one?
During a recent appearance at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, North Carolina, a Q&A session with fans (via Screen Rant) saw the actor confirm his version of the character is named Ted Carson.
"Ted Carson is the character's name. It's misprinted in the media, I have noticed that. It's a new character, it's a new day," Fraser explained. "He's quite cross, he's a veteran whose benefits have been cut, so he wants to burn Gotham to the ground. And Batman and Batgirl are there to stop him. Or are they?"
Ted isn't a new character necessarily as he first appeared in Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff's Batman #126. He became an arsonist known as Firefly, but was a wealthy heir who turned to crime out of greed. As the actor explains, this take will have a different origin story and, as is so often the case with DC, it seems multiple versions of the character are being combined here.
That makes sense given the DC Universe's storied history, and we're certainly intrigued to see what Fraser brings to the role. Firefly is clearly going to bring chaos and fire to Gotham City, and that looks set to be a major test for Barbara as she suits up as a new Caped Crusader.
Batgirl is expected to be released sometime in 2023.