Brendan Fraser Is Still Angry Over Shelved ‘Batgirl’ Movie

by

Brendan Fraser has spoken about the cancellation of the Batgirl movie, expressing his disappointment that it won’t be released, especially for younger viewers who were looking forward to it.

Leslie Grace played Batgirl in this completed film, which unfortunately was never released. The cast also included Michael Keaton, J.K. Simmons, Jacob Scipio, Fraser, and Ivory Aquino. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directed the movie, with a screenplay by Christina Hodson. Originally intended for release as part of the DC Extended Universe, it was produced for HBO Max by Kristin Burr.

Brendan Fraser explained to the Associated Press that making the film was a massive undertaking, with production spanning four floors in Glasgow. He admitted to excitedly visiting the art department just to admire the work. He also expressed sadness that young girls currently lack a relatable female hero, someone who looks like them.

He also disapproved of canceling the film, explaining that entertainment is now often seen as more profitable to discard and claim insurance money than to actually release and see if audiences like it.

This project began development in 2017, and Joss Whedon was initially set to write and direct it.

Once the original writer left, the script was revised, and directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah joined the project in 2021. Leslie Grace was cast as Batgirl, and Michael Keaton returned to play Batman, continuing from his previous films and his appearance in the 2023 movie The Flash. The film was shot in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 2021 to March 2022.

In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery canceled the release of the movie. Although some believed poor test screenings were to blame – with Collider calling it a disappointing and low-budget film – Variety and others reported the decision was primarily about money. The movie’s cost had increased from $70 million to $90 million, and the studio determined it was more financially sensible to write it off as a loss for tax purposes.

The decision to halt the release of the finished film surprised many, including viewers, critics, and industry professionals. U.S. officials raised concerns about the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, pointing to the film’s cancellation as a sign of the company’s approach to business. The film’s directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, attempted to recover some of the footage, but weren’t able to.

Read More

2025-11-22 11:15