BATGIRL Star J.K. Simmons Explains How His Commissioner Gordon Role Differs To JUSTICE LEAGUE

BATGIRL Star J.K. Simmons Explains How His Commissioner Gordon Role Differs To JUSTICE LEAGUE

J.K. Simmons has opened up about his DCEU return as Commissioner Gordon, revealing how the character will differ in Batgirl to the version we met in Justice League. He also praises co-star Leslie Grace...

By JoshWilding - Mar 25, 2022 07:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Batgirl
Source: A.frame

J.K. Simmons first played Commissioner Gordon in 2017's Justice League, but when Ben Affleck decided not to star in and direct The Batman, that appeared to be it for the character. Fans got a few more frames of footage in the Snyder Cut, but it wasn't until Batgirl was announced that we learned the actor would get a second chance to play the Dark Knight's closest ally. 

During a recent interview with A.frame, Simmons revealed his reaction to being asked to reprise the role of Jim Gordon. "[It] really came as a complete surprise that they wanted me to be that guy again," he admits before praising co-star Leslie Grace. "She brings so much to it. "I completely agree about In the Heights. She was really charming and compelling and charismatic in that—and she brings all of that to Batgirl in addition to pretty kickass stunt skills."

Batgirl will explore Gordon's dynamic with his daughter, Barbara Gordon, and if the comic books are any indication, he'll have something to say about her suiting up as a vigilante! 

"The tiny role that Commissioner Gordon played in Justice League was very businesslike and very, 'Let's see if we can stave off the end of the world!'" Simmons explains. "What appealed to me about this movie was from Jim Gordon's point of voice, it's really more a story about him as a guy and as a father and not just about the guy who's turning on the Bat Signal and trying to keep the citizens of Gotham safe - although that's obviously also a part of the story."

"But it was a chance to delve into a different aspect of the character," the actor concluded.

Batgirl is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a screenplay by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey). The expectation was that we might see the movie on HBO Max later this year, but with The Flash pushed into 2023, it's looking likely that the movie might also slip into next year. 

Are you excited to see more of Simmons as Gotham City's Commissioner?

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MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 3/25/2022, 7:13 AM
I love J.K. Simmons. But even so, I’m hard-pressed to find this movie compelling at the moment.
roboticJohnson
roboticJohnson - 3/25/2022, 7:20 AM
Gonna have to wait for a trailer honestly, but right now I don't really have a strong opinion on the movie. On the plus side, I'm excited for fraser, simmons and keaton, so there's that.
JohnCastillo
JohnCastillo - 3/25/2022, 7:27 AM
I was excited to see Ben Affleck in this film to see more scenes with him and J.K Simmons but they’re using Michael Keaton’s Batman instead which is really weird. Batfleck probably dies in The Flash unfortunately.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 3/25/2022, 8:33 AM
@JohnCastillo - I'm think so too. Batfleck probably dies, and Keaton might fly over from his universe to Barry's/Barfleck's at the end of The Flash
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 3/25/2022, 8:48 AM
@JohnCastillo - With a Barbara that looks more like Jeffrey Wright's daughter...
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 3/25/2022, 11:04 AM
@JohnCastillo - He definitely either dies or gets back to the future’d and gets written out of existence
Lokiwasright
Lokiwasright - 3/25/2022, 7:34 AM
Everything is different in the DC universe

IronMan616
IronMan616 - 3/25/2022, 7:35 AM
This movie is going to be so terrible.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 3/25/2022, 7:45 AM
I don't remember his characterization in JL, I remember nothing about that film. I think he only had a couple of scenes though (at least in the 2 hour theatrical cut).

I hate that this is an HBO Max release. Even if it winds up not that good, having more female led superhero films in theaters and a Latina one in that, is always a good thing. Grace was one of the best elements of the otherwise underwhelming In the Heights.
Chekkarma
Chekkarma - 3/25/2022, 8:19 AM
I imagine his Gordon role would have originally been expanded on in the solo Batfleck….I literally can’t think of anything his Gordon did in either iterations that was relevant or pushed the story forward in anyway…at least he gets the chance now…I guess.
TheHumanSpider2
TheHumanSpider2 - 3/25/2022, 8:47 AM
While I'm glad JK Simmons has an oportunity to show more of his Gordon (he was criminally underused in BOTH cuts), I still think is needlessly complicated to have a white Gordon with a black Barbara when you already have a black Gordon (and everybody loved him).

dagenspear
dagenspear - 3/25/2022, 4:55 PM
@TheHumanSpider2 - I think similarly. I still prefer this Batgirl movie to be set in The Batman universe, with Ella-Rae Smith as Barbara Gordon:
Twenty23Three
Twenty23Three - 3/25/2022, 9:09 AM
Oh… remember when DC wouldn’t let Batman be in anything incase audiences got ‘confused’? Now there are multiples of the character and his side characters and the only thing that makes any of it confusing is the way DC have decided to implement it
TheMapleSyrup
TheMapleSyrup - 3/25/2022, 10:05 AM
I think it's a shame people aren't looking more forward to this movie. It's got J.K. as Gordon, Brendan Fraser as Firefly and we'll see Keaton beating up criminals too. Sounds like a fun time to me. I don't know the actress for Batgirl, but with a supporting cast like that, it's got to be at least a little entertaining.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 3/25/2022, 10:16 AM
@TheMapleSyrup - I'm with you
eGGtheGreat
eGGtheGreat - 3/25/2022, 1:58 PM
@TheMapleSyrup - I agree. Even if it turns out bad, I bet it will still be entertaining at least once. I really hope it is good though.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 3/25/2022, 11:00 AM
I was intrigued when this was first announced and then they cast Leslie Grace and I was like …. okay? Then it’s announced that this shit is going straight to HBO Max and I laughed my ass off. If this was 2020 then I would get it but it comes out next year and [frick]ing Blue Beetle is going to have a theatrical run. How embarrassing.

Regardless, I thought “well I’ll wait and see how the suit looks….” then they released that hilariously bad photo of one of the earlier suits and I lost all hope. There’s zero indication this will be good. It has a solid supporting cast but that means nothing. I’ve seen plenty of films that are terrible but had a great supporting cast.

Anyways, I hope I’m wrong but I don’t know… this is still DC/WB we are talking about here lol
eGGtheGreat
eGGtheGreat - 3/25/2022, 1:59 PM
@TheLobster - on average i like dc movies more than marvel ones personally
TheLobster
TheLobster - 3/25/2022, 6:30 PM
@eGGtheGreat - I actually love Man of Steel, BvS Ultimate Cut (theatrical cut is a mess), and ZSJL along with the first Shazam and first WW film.. but DC/WB is a goddamn mess so I have little expectations when it comes to them
eGGtheGreat
eGGtheGreat - 3/25/2022, 6:33 PM
@TheLobster - they do change directions way to often. I have no idea what is cannon and what isn't lol
TheLobster
TheLobster - 3/25/2022, 8:14 PM
@eGGtheGreat - hahaha for real - it’s just all over the place and such a mess. You can pinpoint exactly when they [frick]ed up big time and it’s when they fired Snyder and did a huge detour. Had they just stayed the course - they would be in a much better spot today. They also should have never meddled with Ayer’s Suicide Squad. That only added fuel to the fire that DC is a disaster thanks to WB.

I can only hope Discovery sets things right when they’re fully in control next year.
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