With the popularity of superhero movies as strong as it is, one might think that they would at some point run out of fresh material. DC Studios, however, begs to differ, as with their most recently announced casting, they’ve done somethingno other DC live-action moviehas done before.
With Hollywood’s focus on more diversity and representation in modern media, it was only a matter of time before DC studios joined in. After announcing the casting of transgender actress Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh, a transgender character who also serves as Barbara Gordon’s best friend,in the upcomingBatgirlfilm, now they have. The casting of Aquino as Yeoh marks the first trans character to ever be put in a live-action DC film.
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Aquino, who has acting credits herself both in miniseries (When We Rise) and on stage (OthelloandRomeo and Juliet) will be joining an all-star cast that includes Leslie Grace (as Batgirl), Michael Keaton (as Batman), Brendan Fraser (as Firefly) and JK Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. Needless to say, she’ll be acting beside some pretty big names.
The casting of Aquino as Yeoh only adds to the intrigue this upcoming Batgirl movie already had. Between bringing back Keaton as Batman,who he had previously playedinBatmanandBatman Return30 years ago, and Brendan Fraser, who continues his comeback into Hollywood after his hiatus, this movie already had enough fascination going for it already. Including a transgender character, something not many superhero movies have done, should only add to it.
It is great to see that DC continues its effort in being inclusive to all races and gender in its live-action media. Especially since they cast a transgender actress to play a transgender character. Better yet, hopefully, Yeoh will play an impactful part in the movie which would thus continue to pave the way for more transgender characters to be represented in not just DC media,but in other superhero media as well.
Odds are there will be more castings like this in superhero moves in the near future. By doing so, audiences could see interpretations of transgender people that have yet to be seen in films period. With all the superhero media as popular as it is, studios have to worry about how much material they have left before the genre itself feels bland and repetitive to its audience. With more inclusivity both now and later, this could certainly give superhero media a new wave of material they haven’t touched yet.
Batgirlis expected to be released on HBO Max sometime in 2022.
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