Batgirl

Batgirl is an unreleased American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Barbara Gordon / Batgirl. Produced by Burr! Productions and DC Films for the streaming service HBO Max, it was intended to be an installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film was directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a screenplay by Christina Hodson, and starred Leslie Grace as Batgirl, alongside J. K. Simmons, Jacob Scipio, Brendan Fraser, and Michael Keaton.

Development of a Batgirl feature film began with Joss Whedon in March 2017, but he left the project a year later. Hodson was hired to write a new script in April 2018, with El Arbi and Fallah hired to direct in May 2021 when the film was confirmed as an HBO Max original. Grace was cast that July, and filming took place in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 2021 to March 2022. In August 2022, DC Films and HBO Max parent Warner Bros. Discovery announced that, while the film was close to completion, they no longer planned to release it due to the studio's cost-cutting measures and a refocus on theatrical releases.

## Cast

* Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
* J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon
* Brendan Fraser as Garfield Lynns/Firefly
* Jacob Scipio
* Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman
* Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh
* Rebecca Front
* Corey Johnson
* Ethan Kai
* TBA as Killer Moth

## Cancellation

In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced that it no longer planned to release *Batgirl* on HBO Max or theatrically, despite a previously-scheduled 2022 release on HBO Max. *TheWrap* reported that WBD felt the film "simply did not work" and went against the new desire and mandate from CEO David Zaslav to make DC films "big theatrical event films". *The Guardian* reported that this put *Batgirl* "among the most expensive canceled cinematic projects ever".

*Collider*, *Rolling Stone*, and Reuters wrote that test screening responses were negative, which could have been a factor in WBD's decision; *Collider*'s sources described the film as "a huge disappointment [that] looked cheap in comparison to other films". *Rolling Stone* said that WBD determined that spending an additional $7–9 million during post-production in an effort to bring *Batgirl* to the level of other theatrical DC films, such as *Shazam! Fury of the Gods* (2023), would be fruitless. However, *Variety* denied that the film's quality factored into the decision, reaffirming, along with *The Hollywood Reporter* and *Deadline Hollywood*, that it was part of the studio's larger cost-cutting measures, given the budget increased from an initial $70 million to $90 million, and the desire for DC films to be theatrical blockbusters. *Deadline* noted that test screenings showed temporary versions of the visual effects, "which tend to temper audience enthusiasm".

A subsequent *Variety* report indicated that WBD had concluded that writing off *Batgirl* for a tax break would be the most "financially sound" way of recouping its costs instead of moving the film to a theatrical release with additional investment, selling it to another distributor, or releasing it on HBO Max. *Deadline* reported that the filmmakers had been told that WBD specifically wanted to take advantage of a purchase accounting maneuver, related to the WarnerMedia–Discovery merger and related strategy changes, that had to be invoked by mid-August. Hamada was not consulted regarding the decision and only learned about it when Warner Bros. Pictures Group co-chairpersons and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy informed him at a test screening for *Black Adam* (2022). Hamada was upset and considered resigning, but agreed to stay at least until *Black Adam*'s release.

The cast and crew did not learn of the cancellation until after the *New York Post* broke the story on August 2; El Arbi and Fallah were in Morocco for El Arbi's wedding when they were informed. They released a statement on August 3 that they were "saddened and shocked", but thanked the cast and said they were grateful to have contributed to the DCEU. Film industry figures, including Keaton, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, and film directors Edgar Wright and James Gunn, reached out to El Arbi and Fallah to express support. Following the announcement of the cancellation, El Arbi and Fallah attempted to log into the Warner Bros. servers to capture some of the footage on their cellphones, but they were unable to. Warner Bros. did set up some secret screenings of the unfinished film on its lot, exclusive to cast and crew who had worked on the film, along with their representatives and company executives.

In January 2023, DC Studios co-head Peter Safran said the film was "not releasable" as it "would not have been able to compete in the theatrical marketplace; it was built for the small screen". Though he praised the talents of the actors and crew, he added that had it released, it would have "hurt" the DC brand and those involved.

## Future

Prior to the film's cancellation, Grace and Margot Robbie both expressed interest on a crossover between Batgirl and Robbie's Harley Quinn. Grace said in April 2022 that there were discussions between the crew regarding the plot for a *Batgirl* sequel, but whether a sequel was greenlit would have depended on the film's reception upon release. When WBD announced the film's cancellation, it stated that it hoped to work on other projects with El Arbi, Fallah, and Grace. *Deadline* reported that Warner Bros. was attempting to renegotiate its deals with the three at that time. After James Gunn and Peter Safran were named to oversee DC Studios, both El Arbi and Fallah told *Variety* they were open to working with the revamped DC film slate down the road, if asked. Safran also noted Batgirl would "inevitably" be included in DC Studios DC Universe story.