5 Actresses Who Ought to Play Surprise Girl In James Gunn’s DC Universe

Surprise Girl followers can relaxation straightforward, as a result of DC Studios’ head James Gunn has confirmed to Leisure Weekly {that a} new “Surprise Girl” film is being written proper now. However followers should not count on to see Gal Gadot again as Diana, as a result of whereas that is the third live-action “Surprise Girl” movie, it’s virtually actually going to be a reboot, not a sequel to “Surprise Girl 1984.” (Sorry, Connie Nielsen.)

The earlier silver display screen Surprise Girl films had been a part of the now-dead DC Prolonged Universe. We’re a couple of month out from seeing if Gunn’s DC Universe Take Two can soar with “Superman.” Thus far, of the DC Trinity (Superman, Batman, and Surprise Girl), we solely have David Corenswet forged as Superman. However Gunn does have plans for the opposite two. 

Batman (particularly, the Batman who cameoed in Gunn’s animated “Creature Commandos”) is about to star in “The Courageous and the Daring.” Directed by Andy Muschietti, this movie will see Bruce Wayne partnered with his son, Damian Wayne/Robin. How will this work with “The Batman Half II” starring Robert Pattinson due in 2027? TBD!

Till now, we did not know that DC Studios was going to make a “Surprise Girl” film, however the hints had been there. One of many earliest initiatives the studios introduced was a TV sequence specializing in the origins of the Amazons — the all-women Greek tribe that Diana belongs to. One of many villains of “Creature Commandos” was the Amazon witch Circe (usually a foe of Diana), and Surprise Girl herself cameoed in a imaginative and prescient sequence. 

With the “Surprise Girl” reboot, hopefully the errors of previous movies will be corrected. (None of the “Diana is the daughter of Zeus” nonsense this time, please.) Even higher, Surprise Girl will now not endure the indignity of getting solely been performed on the silver display screen by the actress Gal Gadot! 

Which actress on the market ought to take up Surprise Girl’s lasso subsequent?

In 2023, Monica Barbaro appeared within the romantic comedy “At Midnight.” She performed Sophie Wilder, a Hollywood actress showing in a superhero movie (and she spoke to /Movie about her “At Midnight” expertise.) So, why not get her for the actual factor, particularly the best feminine superhero ever?

Barbaro confirmed motion star potential in 2022’s “Prime Gun: Maverick.” There, she performed Natasha Hint, one of many subsequent technology of fighter pilots (callsign: Phoenix). To play Phoenix, Barbaro received as ripped as any of her male co-stars and the movie wasn’t shy to point out it. However she’s greater than only a bodily presence.

Monica Barbaro can also be now an Oscar-nominated actress because of her efficiency as folks singer legend Joan Baez in “A Full Unknown,” director James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic. Barbaro’s scenes as Baez are principally shared with Timothée Chalamet as Dylan; they have chemistry aplenty, however you may really feel her star energy shining even brighter than his. “Surprise Girl” would (ideally) let Barbaro be a star who no man can measure as much as.

Superficially, Monica Barbaro has simply received the precise attractive search for Surprise Girl too.

Gunn’s DC Universe ought to undoubtedly search for rising stars. One who’s received no earlier superhero baggage is Naomi Scott. She started her onscreen appearing on the Disney Channel, showing within the underrated “Lemonade Mouth” (mainly “the Breakfast Membership types a band”).

Now, Scott’s film star take off took a little bit of a stumble because of 2017’s “Energy Rangers” and 2019’s “Charlie’s Angels.” However Scott got here roaring again to remind us of her expertise in 2024’s “Smile 2.” That was a sequel that completely surpassed the unique and numerous its power rests on Scott as Skye Riley, a pop star and recovering addict. She begins being stalked by one thing a lot worse than an obsessed fan; irrespective of how self-destructive Skye will get, Scott retains her character grounded and the viewers rooting for her.

As Surprise Girl, Scott most likely would not get to make use of her singing abilities (except the Music Meister reveals up). However I am going to level to a different of her Disney roles as Surprise Girl-esque: Princess Jasmine within the live-action “Aladdin.” That is not an excellent film, do not get me improper, however Scott is fairly good in it! The film’s reinvention of Jasmine, a princess who desires to make use of her energy to assist folks, provides a style of how Naomi Scott might play Surprise Girl.

One (the one?) downside with Scott as Surprise Girl is that she’s on the quick facet (reportedly 5 ‘4). Surprise Girl is usually depicted as tall, virtually or simply as tall as Superman and Batman. (Examine previous Surprise Ladies: Lynda Carter is 5 ‘9 and Gal Gadot is 5 ’10). That is not disqualifying by any stretch, however nonetheless one thing to contemplate as DC Studios weigh choices for its new Diana.

Way back, “Mad Max” director George Miller was set to make a Justice League film that received shelved simply earlier than it was to begin filming. However Miller nonetheless started working together with his choose for Surprise Girl — Megan Gale — when he forged her in his 2015 opus, “Mad Max: Fury Street.” That image, starring the Surprise Girl who by no means was, additionally options an actor who would kill as the following Surprise Girl: Courtney Eaton.

Eaton (who was 16 when “Fury Street” shot in 2012) performed Cheedo the Fragile, one of many hostage wives of warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). Today, she’s extra identified for the Showtime sequence “Yellowjackets,” a couple of women’ soccer group that crash lands within the Canadian wilderness and struggles to outlive. Eaton performs Lottie Matthews, the unstable prophet satisfied there is a increased energy guiding her and her mates. “Yellowjackets” is a present about girls, stranded away from civilization, tearing one another down, not like the Amazons who construct one another and a utopia up.

A part of the enjoyable of “Yellowjackets” is that it is a showcase for a few of the finest younger actresses working — Courtney Eaton isn’t any exception. She performs Lottie as unhappy and tormented but in addition very creepy. Lottie can also be a personality of robust conviction; Eaton might channel that facet into Surprise Girl and play a stronger, fiercer, and extra resolved character, one who actually helps folks the best way Lottie tries and fails to. Eaton has received a form smile, one which Diana would give again to a younger lady trying as much as her. On the whole, Eaton ticks off so many bins for the standard Surprise Girl look.

Surprise Girl preaches a message of affection and peace, however she’s additionally an individual of motion. She ought to appear like and carry herself as somebody who might beat you up, as a result of spoiler alert, she will be able to!

Actress Katy O’Brian would simply match Surprise Girl and never simply as a result of she already has the muscular tissues for the half. O’Brian appeared in a small half in 2023’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” as Jentorra, an alien warrior within the Quantum Realm. If Marvel Studios is not going to present Katy O’Brian an enormous function, then DC Studios ought to.

The half that received folks taking note of Katy O’Brian was in 2024’s “Love Lies Bleeding,” a vital addition to the buff girls movie canon. She performed Jackie Cleaver, a physique builder who turns into concerned with the supervisor of her gymnasium, Lou Langston (Kristen Stewart). Jackie, taking steroids to organize for a contest, murders JJ (Dave Franco), the abusive husband of Lou’s sister Beth (Jena Malone). The lovers undergo some hellish blowback, however finally get their joyful ending. (One more reason to forged O’Brian — let Surprise Girl be queer, as she’s alleged to be.)

As Jackie, O’Brian’s curly hair and large muscular tissues make her the spitting picture of George Pérez’s Surprise Girl. Katy O’Brian is an motion film star simply ready for the proper half and Surprise Girl might be it.

The working favourite to play Surprise Girl subsequent is Adria Arjona. She has been on a roll lately, from her roles in each tv (Bix Caleen in “Star Wars: Andor”) and movie (Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man”). Arjona has been helped quite a bit by her comedy abilities, however her efficiency as Bix particularly reveals how she would possibly strategy a extra critical and action-heavy function like a superhero. Whereas Bix has to make compromises in a morally gray universe, Diana would let Arjona play a beacon of hope.

Surprise Girl followers aren’t pitching Arjona as Diana simply as a result of she’s a popping and really gifted actress. She’s additionally labored with the person in cost earlier than.

Arjona’s first function movie function, 2016’s “The Belko Experiment,” was written by James Gunn. Gunn likes to reuse actors; Nathan Fillion reveals up in virtually all of his films, as an illustration. So if he is (presumably) going to play a component in casting the brand new Surprise Girl, he would possibly need somebody he is labored with earlier than. It would not be a nepotism rent, although, since Arjona has saved proving why she deserves her roles with every new one she takes.

Throughout the “Andor” season 2 press tour, CinemaBlend requested Arjona concerning the hypothesis of her taking part in Surprise Girl. She clearly did not verify something, or if Gunn has even talked along with her about being within the DC Universe, however she did say “I really like James Gunn” and crossed her fingers in hope.

As Diana, Adria Arjona could be charming, humorous, and succesful Surprise Girl we want and deserve.