Batgirl is thought to be one of the most expensive movies to have never been released
A series of supposedly dire reviews in test screenings and an apparent change in direction from Warner Bros. and DC has seen the movie adaptation of Batgirl cancelled entirely, despite the film having already been made.
News of the DCEU movie being axed before it was even released was first reported by the New York Post, who are said to have been informed by a top Hollywood source who claims the movie performed very poorly in early test screenings.
Slated for a late 2022 release on the HBO Max streaming platform, first impressions of the flick directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Ms. Marvel, Bad Boys for Life,) are said to have included phrases like “unspeakable” and “irredeemable”.
A minute after this story posted got a call from a rival studio exec who was floored by move. "Worked in this town for three decades and this is some unprecedented shit right here." https://t.co/A3aBLPulWz
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) August 2, 2022
With the insider claiming the movie’s reported $70 million budget was closer to $100m following covid delays (£82m), they went on to claim that this will go down as one of the most expensive movies to have been produced without ever actually releasing.
Confirmation of Batgirl not just being shelved but canned entirely was confirmed by Variety, who understand that it will never air in theatres or any streaming platforms while Batman‘s cinematic license remains with Warner Bros.
Studio sources claim the decision is nothing to do with test screenings and is simply a reflection of their desire to make DC features on a blockbuster scale.
A Warner Bros spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter: “The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” they said.
“Leslie Grace [Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl] is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance.”
Citing other projects such as Scoob! Holiday Haunt, which has also been axed as part of the corporate shift, the spokesperson expressed their gratitude to the production teams and respective casts, adding that they “hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future.”
Alongside Grace in the lead real – best known for appearances in Step Up 2 and In The Heights – the project was also said to see Michael Keaton reprising his role as the ‘Caped Crusader’, J. K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon and even Brendan Fraser as the main antagonist, Firefly.
Regardless of the early reviews, many fans still want to see it.
If the rumors about Batgirl’s cancelled release are true, there is absolutely no excuse for that.
Leslie Grace deserves better. Brendan Fraser deserves better. Michael Keaton deserves better. The fans deserve better.
Batgirl deserves better! pic.twitter.com/9YL8xtyXrN
— Michael Patterson (@michaelp93) August 2, 2022
Insanely disrespectful to everyone involved with Batgirl to not at least release it on HBO Max. https://t.co/zY6oLuA6Y0
— Jack McBryan (@McBDirect) August 2, 2022
Folks who are like “Batgirl was shelved because it was bad” acting as if that has ever stopped WB from releasing something before, lol.
— Richard Newby (@RICHARDLNEWBY) August 2, 2022
It would seem DC and WB are pretty much cursed when it comes to kicking their DCEU into gear after the likes of the original Suicide Squad, Justice League and their Batfleck universe all struggled to make roots.
This is notwithstanding ongoing issues with the likes of The Flash movie following actor Ezra Miller‘s numerous controversies and Amber Heard’s much-debated role in Aquaman 2 following her high-profile defamation suit loss to ex-husband, Johnny Depp.
By the looks of things, not even Batman can save them and Batgirl won’t even get the chance.
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