Warner Bros has made a 180 degree turn with the film
‘Batgirl’ will not be released in theaters or platforms despite the fact that it is already finished, as confirmed by Warner.
A company statement emphasized that the decision was “not a reflection” of the performance of its “incredibly talented” lead star, Leslie Gracebut it was the result of a change in strategy of the company in relation to the schedule of upcoming releases of DC Comics movies and series. The company has also scrapped ‘Scoob! Holiday Haunted.
“The decision not to release ‘Batgirl’ reflects the strategic shift in our leadership as it relates to the DC Universe and HBO Max,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said.
“Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actress and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the makers of ‘Batgirl’ and ‘Scoob! Holiday Haunt’ and their respective casts and We look forward to collaborating with everyone again in the near future..”
After the announcement, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah released a statement on Instagram, saying, “We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it. As directors, it is essential that our work is shown to the public And while the film was far from over, we wish fans around the world had had the opportunity to see and experience the final film for themselves. Maybe one day they will, God willing.”
“Our incredible cast and crew did a tremendous job and worked so hard to create ‘Batgirl.’ We will be forever grateful to have been a part of that team. It was a dream to work with such fantastic actors like Michael Keaton, JK Simmons, Brendan FraserJacob Scipio, Corey Johnson, Rebecca Front and especially the great Leslie Grace, who played Batgirl with such passion, dedication and humanity.”
“In any case, as huge Batman fans since we were little kids, it was a privilege and an honor to have been a part of the DCEU, even for a brief moment. Batgirl For Life“.
According to TheWrap and The New York Post, the bosses of Warner Bros. Pictures’ new corporate owners, Discovery, have decided shelving the film entirely, instead of releasing it theatrically or on HBO Max As planned.
Batgirl would be coming straight to HBO Max, but Discovery’s David Zaslav has changed the company’s strategy for DC more towards theatrical event movies since it merged with WB.
According to both publications, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s budget for the film had been increased to $90 million due to COVID-19 delays and reshoots in the UK. It seems that Discovery would rather eat the $90 million loss than trying to rearrange the film for a theatrical release or stay the course for an HBO streaming option.
The film was to be Grace’s debut as Barbara Gordon, the masked vigilante and member of Batman’s inner circle who protects Gotham City.
The directors recently teased that the film would have been an origin story for the hero, with a rather gritty tone. ‘Justice League’ Actor JK Simmons Was Slated to Return as Barbara’s father, Gotham Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, while Michael Keaton reportedly reprized his iconic role as Batman.
El Arbi and Fallah also teased Keaton’s significant involvement in the film, promising that fans could look forward to seeing the “Original Batman” in action in Gotham once again.
The film would have followed ‘The Flash’, which reintroduces Keaton’s Batman alongside Ben Affleck’s version of the hero as part of a Multiverse adventure.
Source: Fotogramas
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
