Following Warner Bros. Discovery’s shocking last-minute cancelation of Leslie Grace’s Batgirl, the company has said that the move was part of their changing strategy for the DC Universe.
Batgirl had wrapped production and was ready for release later this year, making its sudden cancelation all the more shocking. Early reports suggested that the film’s ballooning budget and poor test screenings had led to the decision to shelve it.
In a statement today, Warner Bros. Discovery said that the decision was a part of the ongoing changes at the company, which includes a shakeup of DC properties.
The Future Of Leslie Grace’s Batgirl
While it is not yet clear what Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to cancel Batgirl will mean for the character’s future in the DCEU, the company has said they are eager to work with the actress and the filmmakers again.
Batgirl‘s cancelation will have come as a shock to many because the film was practically finished, with all shooting and reshoots completed. Its budget grew from an initial $70 million, when it was planned as an HBO Max exclusive, to $90 million when Warner Bros. opted for a theatrical release instead.
In their statement on Batgirl‘s cancelation, Warner Bros. Discovery said:
“The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max. Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future.”
Since the Warner Bros. Discovery merger was completed earlier this year, the new company has been undergoing much restructuring as they rethink their approach to their film output. Batgirl‘s cancelation will come as a bitter blow to many fans who had been looking forward to the film, which was also set to star a returning Michael Keaton as Batman and Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly.
As mentioned in the statement above, Warner Bros. Discovery has also shelved the animated Scoob! Holiday Haunt, a sequel to 2020’s Scoob!. This film was also practically complete and was slated for release later this year.
Batgirl was set to follow the Barbara Gordon iteration of the Gotham City heroine. The film starred Leslie Grace, J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser and Michael Keaton.
Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on Batgirl and Warner Bros. Discovery, and to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.
