A Female Robin Isn't Just Awesome -- It Might Save Hollywood

Why A Female Robin In 'Batman' Might Just Save Hollywood
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was processed using digital filters) Actress Jena Malone attends the 'Time Out Of Mind' premiere during the 52nd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall on October 5, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was processed using digital filters) Actress Jena Malone attends the 'Time Out Of Mind' premiere during the 52nd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall on October 5, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)

When the casting was announced, it ignited a potential backlash the likes of which was rarely seen: travesty that a woman should be cast in a traditionally male role. I speak, of course, of Lucy Liu in Elementary, the CBS show that has become an unexpected smash hit with Liu’s female Watson to Jonny Lee Miller’s Holmes—the venerable A.V. Club even argued it’s better than rival Sherlock.

Now, the genderflip strikes again, this time with the rumored casting of Jena Malone in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. There’s no reason not to genderflip traditionally male roles, and, in fact, there’s a strong argument for it: Female-driven film and television is doing better than ever before, and women are making up roughly 50 percent of ticket buyers, so they have a bigger say in what breaks box office records than ever before.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot