Warner Bros. axes Batgirl, the film won’t be released

Though it is nearly completed Batgirl won’t be getting a release. Warner Bros. has decided to shelve the film which will not see it making to theaters or even HBO Max.

The $90 million production starred Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl and directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The film was launched in 2021 as a focus on original films for HBO Max. The new regime of Warner Bros. Discovery has decided to focus on theatrical releases and felt the film wasn’t up to snuff for it. The films they are looking for are on a “blockbuster scale” and it was felt Batgirl didn’t reach that level. The film’s budget was smaller as it was original meant for HBO Max but the budget increased due to COVID delays and protocols.

There are many conflicting takes coming out right now though. Some say this doesn’t fit into the new focus. Some others have stated test screenings were negative. Others think this is part of a general shuffle going on with DCU movies. Rumors have it that Ben Affleck’s Batman is getting a bigger role in The Flash and Aquaman 2.

The movie was rumored to be getting a theatrical release instead of going straight to HBO Max so it being pulled even from that is a bit puzzling but the new regime seems to want to move forward with big movies going forward. The fate of the troubled film The Flash seems to be up in the air as well. It was noticeably absent from San Diego Comic-Con.

Batgirl also featured J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, Michael Keaton as Batman, and Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly.

Now… countdown until #ReleaseBatgirl or #FreeBatgirl begins and plans change yet again.