DC’s Batgirl Movie Dead: Nearly Finished $90M Release Canceled By WB

Warner Bros. has completely scrapped DC’s forthcoming Batgirl movie during the final phases of production. It will no longer be released on any platform, in a theater, or on HBO Max.

 

Batgirl’s price tag is reported as being between $90-$100 million dollars and was budgeted for an HBO Max release, not a theatrical one, which is said to be one of the reasons for the lack of faith in releasing the project, as it wouldn’t hold up to theatrical scrutiny. Fan speculation about the lack of Batgirl’s presence at this year’s Comic-Con now seems to have a reason, as WB Discovery continues their pivot to the new leadership’s model for DCEU’s future. The shelved Batgirl will now go down in history as one of the most expensive movies to never see the light of day.

 

Despite finishing shooting and reaching post-production, the incumbent Warner Bros.  The decision was made by Discovery CEO David Zaslav to prioritize theatrical releases rather than streaming-focused projects, which were Jason Kilar’s top priority.

 

“The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement. 

 

Batgirl, greenlit in 2021, stars In the Heights’ Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) and is helmed by Ms. Marvel’s Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman alongside J.K. Simmons and Brendan Fraser playing Commissioner James Gordon and the villain Firefly, respectively. 

 

“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,” the statement continued.

 

As Alysia, Barbara’s best friend, played by Filipino-American actress Ivory Aquino, the movie would have also introduced DC’s first transgender character.

 

Batgirl, which won’t be profitable, was also passed over at DC’s July San Diego Comic-Con panel.

 

The female-led superhero film was originally slated to premiere on HBO Max in 2022.

 

The Scooby-Doo! animated series Scoob: Holiday Haunt, costing the company $40 million has also been shelved by the studio alongside Batgirl.