Warner Bros.’ upcoming DC movie Batgirl had been slated for an HBO Max exclusive release, but following the success of The Batman, executives are reportedly considering a traditional release.
To say Warner Bros. caused a bit of a stir when they announced their plan to give their entire 2021 film slate a simultaneous HBO Max and theatrical release would be an understatement. Fans and filmmakers alike expressed concerns over the impact the decision would have on movie theaters that were already struggling in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The announcement did, however, see subscriptions to HBO Max increase, possibly emboldening the company to reserve some future major releases for the platform. The DC movie Batgirl is a prime example, with the $70 million superhero feature being made an HBO Max exclusive.
However, in the wake of the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger and the success of Robert Pattinson’s The Batman, the company are reportedly considering giving Batgirl a theatrical release before it hits the streaming service. The Batman was given a 45-day exclusive theatrical window before it was released on HBO Max. The film raked in $750 million at the box office and quickly became one of HBO Max’s most streamed titles. Now, Puck is reporting that Warner Bros.’ new executives are seriously considering putting more money into visual effects, soundtrack and marketing on Batgirl to launch the movie in theaters before it becomes available to stream.
With the Leslie Grace-led film including the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman and J.K. Simmons’ Commissioner Gordon, it certainly has the credentials for a successful theatrical release. The Batman may have also proved there is a real interest in seeing DC’s catalogue of Batman characters on the big screen. Its theatrical and streaming success certainly proved that a quick jump from theaters to streaming would not necessarily harm Batgirl‘s performance in either arena.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are directing Batgirl. The movie is set to follow the Barbara Gordon iteration of the Gotham City heroine, played by Leslie Grace. J.K. Simmons also stars as Commissioner Gordon, Brendan Fraser will appear as the villain Firefly, and Michael Keaton is returning as his version of Batman.
Batgirl will hit HBO Max sometime this year. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on Batgirl, and be sure to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.
Source: Puck (via ComicBookMovie.com)
