‘Batgirl’ Canned Despite Being Nearly Complete
Batgirl will not be taking flight on either HBO Max or in theaters, as the nearly-finished film has been shockingly cancelled by Warner Brothers.
The Wrap has indicated that Warner Bros. Discovery has opted to scrap the $90M Batgirl film, which was originally planned to see release on HBO Max but supposedly was making a move toward a theatrical run. One reason cited for the cancellation was that the film’s mid-budget approach did not fit the visual standard that corporate heads expect future DC Films productions to live up to. The film was set to star Leslie Grace as Batgirl, J. K. Simmons as Jim Gordon, Jacob Scipio as Anthony Bressi, Brendan Fraser as Ted Carson / Firefly, Ivory Aquino portrays Alysia Yeoh, and Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, with Rebecca Front, Corey Johnson, and Ethan Kai cast in undisclosed roles.
Warner Bros. Discovery also scrapped a spin-off to the animated movie Scoob!, which would have been a holiday special for HBO Max. The cuts come after WBD indicated that they were looking for ways to save money following the merger. If there’s a silver lining to the Batgirl situation, then it’s that the cast and crew are said to be in the good graces of the new management, although it remains to be seen if they return that enthusiasm. As such, it remains unclear if Grace will be portraying Batgirl in future projects, or if directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah will come back to work for them after their movie was scrapped, though new CEO David Zaslav is said to want to work with them.
It was also indicated that the film’s multiverse elements (tied to the upcoming release of The Flash) may have confused test audiences. One key element in the film that may have thrown viewers is how Keaton’s iteration of Batman would be a mentor figure for Batgirl. Keaton’s scenes in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom were recently reshot with Ben Affleck, initially to preserve continuity with the change in release dates (as The Lost Kingdom was meant to follow The Flash, which represented the point that Keaton was meant to take over Affleck’s role). After this news, it’s uncertain if Keaton will have a major role in DC Films going forward, while speculation about Affleck’s possible return to the brand remains open.
Given WB’s tumultuous history with DC Films, do not be surprised if a fan campaign to save the film surfaces on social media.
Grant Davis is a freelance writer who has covered entertainment news for more than seven years. His articles have frequently appeared in Star Wars News Net as well as as other entertainment-related websites. As someone who grew up on Star Wars and comic book movies, he’s completely thrilled with the current era of genre entertainment.
