Warner Bros. Officially Cancels the BATGIRL Movie

As a long-time DC Comics fan and gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich lore of Gotham City, the news about Batgirl’s cancellation leaves me feeling a mix of disappointment and bewilderment. It’s like finding out that the latest expansion pack for your favorite video game was scrapped at the last minute – it just doesn’t make sense!


As a die-hard gamer and DC Comics fan, I was thrilled to see Warner Bros. bring “Black Adam” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” to San Diego Comic-Con recently. With both movies slated for release this year, it felt like a perfect setup. But surprisingly, another film rumored to hit screens in 2022 – “Batgirl” starring Leslie Grace – was nowhere to be found at Comic-Con. Initially planned as an exclusive HBO Max premiere, recent reports from The Hollywood Reporter indicate that Warner Bros. has decided against releasing the “Batgirl” movie altogether. This news initially surfaced on The Wrap, and Warner Bros. has since confirmed their decision not to release the film in any capacity.

The company offered the following statement with regard to Batgirl‘s cancellation.

The choice not to premiere “Batgirl” signifies a change in our management’s strategic approach concerning the DC universe and HBO Max. It’s important to clarify that Leslie Grace’s exceptional acting skills were not the basis for this decision. We deeply appreciate the hard work of the “Batgirl” and “Scoob! Holiday Haunt” filmmakers, as well as their talented casts. We eagerly look forward to working with them all again soon.

Following this termination, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah shared a statement expressing their disappointment about the recent developments, yet maintaining their affection for the film and its cast. Adil El Arbi even shared a sneak peek of Michael Keaton as Batman on his Instagram stories.

Other members of the team as well have expressed their sorrow over the film’s cancellation. Leslie Grace posted an emotional message to her colleagues and supporters. In addition, individuals such as Jules Wallace, a martial artist and stunt combat performer involved with Batgirl, have hinted at what might have been. More recently, we were given our initial peek at the DC supervillain Killer Moth, who was set to feature in the film.

One individual who appeared rather unfazed by the cancellation of Batgirl was Michael Keaton. In a conversation with GQ, he commented, ” frankly, it didn’t matter much to me. It was a big, enjoyable project, and it provided a decent paycheck.” GQ reports, “Keaton remarks, mimicking the universal sign for ‘money’ by rubbing his fingers together.”

Despite making this comment, he also mentioned, “I root for those guys. I hope they achieve success, and I believe they were deeply troubled by the situation, which in turn affected me. In my case, though, I’m all right.” (Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah)

The announcement that Batgirl has been cancelled comes as a shock to many, given that the movie had already wrapped up shooting and was in post-production. This implies that most of the $90 million budget has already been expended. It seems peculiar that they wouldn’t complete the film for release on HBO Max, considering this budget is already less than many DC Comics movies. Additionally, spending a bit more doesn’t seem excessive when you consider the amount they spent on reshoots for another movie last year.

In this film, Leslie Grace portrayed Barbara Gordon (also known as Batgirl). J.K. Simmons took on the role of Commissioner Gordon, while Michael Keaton was featured as Batman, as previously mentioned. Brendan Fraser appeared as the antagonist Firefly. Moreover, Ivory Aquino joined the cast as Alysia Yeoh, who is Batgirl’s close friend.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the decision to postpone the release of Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt has been made by Warner Bros., due to a shift in leadership at the company. The new CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav, seems to be focusing on films intended for cinematic releases rather than those designed for streaming platforms. This adjustment doesn’t just impact Batgirl; it also affects Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, an animated feature.

Amy Ratcliffe serves as the Editor-in-Chief at TopMob and is the writer behind Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Jedi Mind, and additional titles. To keep up with her latest updates, find her on Twitter and Instagram.

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2024-08-21 18:03