Although Jena Malone has been confirmed to have a role in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” we will not be seeing her when the movie is released on March 25. That's because, according to reports, her role needed to be cut from the film in order to keep its PG-13 rating. But we'll definitely be seeing her in the R-rated “ultimate edition” of the movie that will be a direct-to-home release.
So who is she in the film?
Those lucky enough to see screenings of the movie have just revealed the answer – and it does not disappoint.
According to surveys, which were filled up by screeners during previews of “Batman v Superman” and posted on Imgur and Reddit, Malone is playing none other than Barbara Gordon, daughter of Commissioner Gordon (who we also recently learned will be played by J.K. Simmons in the “Justice League” films).
Since we already know from Zack Snyder himself that Malone will not be playing Barbara Gordon's most well-known aliases – Batgirl or even Robin – we can take a confident and educated guess that she will be playing Barbara Gordon as Oracle, the wheelchair bound IT savant who commands the Birds of Prey.
Oracle would have been an amazing addition to the movie, which already clocks in at two hours and 31 minutes. But some survey results from screeners showed that they preferred to see more of Clark Kent or Lex Luthor rather than Barbara Gordon. Bummer!
But since we know we'll finally get her screen time in the ultimate edition, this could mean bigger things for Malone and Barbara Gordon/Oracle in the DC universe. Knowing that the direct-to-home release of the film is grittier and more brutal, it could mean that her origin story as Oracle, who came to be due to violence, could be told via a flashback.
Could she perhaps make an appearance in “Suicide Squad” as well? Or perhaps her introduction in this film could even herald a “Birds of Prey” movie?
Needless to say, we're disappointed that we won't be seeing Malone on the big screen. However, knowing that Barbara Gordon will definitely be in the DC universe is something to look forward to.
