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Batgirl Movie Canceled, Won’t Be Released on Any Platform
In a surprise turn of events, Warner Bros. Discovery has reportedly decided to cancel the release of the planned Batgirl film, according to a report from The Wrap. The report mentions that Warner Bros. Discovery is no longer planning to release the film, which had already wrapped production earlier this year and was seemingly all but completed, on either HBO Max or in theaters. Earlier this year, reports hinted at the possibility of the film being shifted from theaters to streaming only, but it seems as if the studio has instead chosen to scrap it altogether.
News of the film’s cancellation also hints at the potential reasoning behind it, with the report noting that the new leaders of Warner Bros. Discovery, led by CEO David Zaslav, are looking to make DC films more of a major theatrical event for the movie industry and that Batgirl did not fit that mold. The film was initially not conceived as a theatrical film and had a much smaller budget compared to most comic book blockbusters.
The film stars Leslie Grace in the titular role with J.K. Simmons as Barbara’s father, Commissioner Jim Gordon and Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman (as he also does in “The Flash” movie). Brendan Fraser was also set star as the villain Firefly. Film was expected to release sometime in 2023. As for the exact reason behind the shelving, sources say the film did not fall in line with the new strategy being implemented by DC Films as well as HBO Max. Batgirl was budgeted to screen in homes on HBO Max, and not for a major global release in theaters. The initial $75 million production budget for the project reached $90 million due to several delays.
The decision still comes as a shock, as studios almost never shelve productions outright, preferring to get at least some return on their investment. It also comes as Warner Bros. is still contending with what to do about “The Flash”, a DC adaptation created — and budgeted — specifically for theatrical release in 2023. The film has been hamstrung by repeated allegations of abuse and misconduct by its star, Ezra Miller.
Also on the chopping block, “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt,” a sequel to the 2020 film “Scoob!”, has been shelved by the studio. Footage for the animated adaptation of the “Scooby-Doo” series was showcased in a sizzle reel for HBO Max back in December 2021. Sources indicate that the production had cost Warner Bros. $40 million.
Batgirl made her debut in the Batman mythos 50 years ago as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. When Barbara Gordon was paralyzed by a gunshot from the Joker in the classic graphic novel “The Killing Joke,” other crimefighters, like The Huntress and Orphan, took up the Batgirl name while Barbara became Oracle, a tech-savvy aide to Batman. Barbara later returned to the Batgirl role, while her assault in “The Killing Joke” was revised.
"Batgirl" was written by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey), and directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life). Filming initially took place in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 2021 to March 2022. The hero was first seen in the 1967 Batman series with the late Yvonne Craig playing Barbara. Her first comic book appearance was in Detective Comics #357 by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino.
These news come amidst a turbulent time for the DCEU, as earlier this year, reports also surfaced that hinted at Warner Bros. Discovery looking to re-examine the current state of the DCEU. With only five films — Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, The Flash, and Blue Beetle — having concrete release dates at the time. It’s anyone’s guess now as to what the future holds for the world of DC Films.
