Batgirl: The Superhero Movie You’ll Never See

4 – When should this be published?

Signed by directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilal Fallah (Bad Boys For Life, Miss Marvel), Batgirl has never had a specific release date. Initially, the project was a feature film intended for the big screen, written by Joss Whedon, but due to allegations of inappropriate behavior, he left the project in February 2018.

That’s when Warner’s choice shifted to the El Arbi-Fallah duo instead, and it was decided that the feature film would finally be released on the HBO Max platform in 2022 or 2023. Little did we know then that it would never come out. Go there!

3 – What was the scenario?

After Joss Whedon’s departure, Warner is starting from scratch with his Batgirl movie. He’s handing the reins to Christina Hodson, an up-and-coming blockbuster screenwriter who was tapped for his film Bumblebee and hired directly by Warner to oversee three DC universe films: Birds of Prey, Batgirl and the return of The Flash. His trademark? He works alone.

He has been working on Batgirl since April 2018 and the story has been kept under wraps until now. We just know it’s Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, donning the Batgirl costume to take on the fire-breathing Firefly and (rumored) Killer Moth, the spider-loving assassin.

in the podcast God, a Hollywood insider says the film was supposed to have low stakes and that it was a kind of Christmas movie with Jason Todd (the version of Robin who becomes Red Riding Hood) and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. As for Firefly, she would be introduced as the killer of Barbara’s mother (and thus Commissioner Gordon’s wife).

2 – Who should play in it?

The role of superhero Barbara Gordon / Batgirl was played by Leslie Grace, a singer who appeared in the musical comedy Where We Come directed by John M. Chu. This was to be his second fictional role.

The rest of the casting is quite surprising, as the movie was supposed to feature Commissioner Gordon from Zack Snyder’s DC universe (JK Simmons), Batman from Tim Burton’s version (Michael Keaton), and an actor as the villain Firefly. Greg Berlanti’s World: Brendan Fraser, who already plays Clifford Steele and Robotman in the Doom Patrol series.

Finally, Sivori Aquino was to play Alysia Yeoh, Barbara’s best bartender friend, and Ethan Kai – a mysterious but “main” role.

1 – Why didn’t it happen?

Batgirl wrapped filming in March 2022 and on August 2nd some very official US media like variety It is reported that Warner has decided to pull the film from its schedule. The reason for this is not officially related to the quality of the film, but to the fact that the studio abandoned making films exclusively for the HBO Max platform and that with its small budget, Batgirl had no equal. Screening in cinemas.

In addition, the firm had already spent $90 million on the film, or 15 more than originally planned for 75 due to delays due to COVID, and did not want to spend several million more to finish the already planned film. . very expensive

On January 31, 2023, Peter Safran, co-president of DC Studios with James Gunn, told variety that the movie is “unsorted”underlines the talent of those who made it, adding: “ Zaslav and his team made a bold and daring decision because it hurt DC as well as everyone involved.

On hearing this news, Leslie Grace told him that he felt “burst bubble”indirectly comments on Safran’s remarks: “When people who have really put in a lot of time say things like that – myself, the whole team – I understand how frustrating it can be.

Brendan Fraser adds:I’m sad that a new generation of little girls will still have to wait to see Batgirl and think she looks like me.”

Will we ever see this movie? Probably not in the coming years. Still, Leslie Grace could still become the Batgirl of DC’s new universe, led by Gunn and Safran. The question is: will the actor be willing to try the experience again?