More proof that the Fraserenaissance is in full swing – Brendan Fraser is set to take on the role of Firefly in the new Batgirl movie.
It has been confirmed that Fraser, 52, will play the villain the upcoming DC movie, alongside Leslie Grace, who will star as the titular character Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon.
A number of characters have played the superhero in the Batman universe but Gordon is the most prominent, even though Batgirl debuted in the comics as Betty Kane in 1961.
On screen, Batgirl was played by Yvonne Craig in the 1960s TV series, while Alicia Silverstone portrayed the character in the 1997 movie Batman & Robin, although she was butler Alfred Pennyworth’s niece in that project.
JK Simmons is back to play Jim Gordon after playing him in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
This is the second DC project for Fraser, having provided the voice of Cliff Steele in the series Doom Patrol.
Those rooting for the actor will be delighted to hear about the latest title in his Hollywood comeback, after a prolonged absence from the spotlight.
Fraser was one of the late 90s most prominent leading men, starring as Rick O’Connell in The Mummy franchise as well as in films like George of the Jungle and Bedazzled.
However, over the noughties he took a hiatus from acting, before returning to television in the late ‘10s with roles in The Affair and Danny Boyle’s drama Trust.
In a 2018 interview with GQ, Fraser alleged that he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, at a luncheon in the summer of 2003.
Berk denied the allegations as a ‘complete fabrication’, and claims that he pinched Fraser’s bottom in jest.
Fraser said he became depressed after the alleged incident, which was exacerbated by the death of his mother and health issues.
The star underwent a partial knee replacement, a laminectomy, and vocal cord surgery due to the toll on his body caused from his physical movie roles.
Fraser claims that this depression led to the decline in his career.
However, The Mummy star has a number of high profile roles lined up, in addition to Batgirl and The CW series Professionals.
The father-of-three will star as a 600lb recluse in the Darren Aronofsky drama The Whale, and has been cast in a comedy, Brothers, alongside Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage and Glenn Close.
Perhaps most excitingly, Fraser has also been cast in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Western drama Killers of the Flower Moon, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons.
Batgirl is expected to stream on HBO Max next year.
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