Batgirl: Ivory Aquino to play first trans character in live-action DC film

Actor Ivory Aquino has joined the cast of HBO Max's upcoming Batgirl movie. The actor will play the role of Alysia Yeoh, a transgender bartender, an aspiring chef, and best friend to Batgirl. Notably, this will be the first openly trans character to appear in a live-action DC film.

Aquino will star opposite Leslie Grace, JK Simmons, Brendan Fraser, Michael Keaton and Jacob Scipio in the film.

Batgirl is directed by Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The film has a script written by Christina Hodson, who previously wrote Birds of Prey and has also written the script for the upcoming The Flash movie. Though plot details are kept under wraps, the film centres on the heroine whose real identity is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon.

While Grace portrays Barbara, JK Simmons will reprise his role as Jim Gordon. As announced earlier, actor Brendan Fraser will play the villain Firefly.

Aquino is best known for her performance in titles like When They See Us, Tales of the City, and When We Rise.