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Warner Bros pull the plug on ‘Batgirl’

The $90M budget film was intended to stream on HBO Max. In a surprise announcement shocking both directors, cast, and crew, it seems that Batgirl is off the table.

Warner Bros has announced in a brief statement that the Batgirl film would not be released on any platform, surprising Belgian filmmakers, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.

The directors, best known for their work on Bad Boys for Life and the recent sensation, Ms. Marvel have shared their sadness and disappointment via a statement this morning: “We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it. As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences, and while the film was far from finished, we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves. Maybe one day they will Insha’Allah.”

batgirl axed
Credit: Twitter

They continue: “Our amazing cast and crew did a tremendous job and worked so hard to bring Batgirl to life. We are forever grateful to have been part of that team. It was a dream to work with such fantastic actors like Michael Keaton, J K Simmons, Brendan Fraser, Jacob Scipio, Corey Johnson, and especially the great Leslie Grace, who portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication, and humility. In any case as huge fans of Batman since we were little kids, it was a privilege and an honor to be part of the DCEU, even if it was for a brief moment. Batgirl for life.”

The film had some major heavy-weight stars, with Leslie Grace as Batgirl, Brendan Fraser, JK Simmons, Rebecca Front, and Michael Keaton returning as Batman.

Hollywood sources report Warner Brothers predicted the film would not earn enough money to cover its budget. Other sources have cited that the film bombed during test screenings. A film industry source via the NY Post insisted in an interview that the film’s quality was part of the equation and said its screen test numbers were “in the 30s” (out of 100).

The Hollywood Reporter said Batgirl’s budget of $US90 million ($130 million) was much lower than the average DC film. They added , “the film is said not to have the spectacle that audiences have come to expect from DC fare”. 

Warners Bros’ official statement is brief and to the point ,to say the least: “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.”