Warner Bros. has pulled out of the $90 million Batgirl movie planned for HBO Max. In the Heights, star Leslie Grace plays the lead role of Batgirl. Richard Shotwell/The Associated Press
Warner Bros. gave up $90 million Batgirl movie planned for HBO Max, according to a person connected to the film who was not authorized to speak publicly about it.
The decision was extremely unusual for such an expensive and almost finished film. But the studio eventually decided Batgirl earned neither a streaming debut nor a theatrical release, opting instead to completely write off the film starring “In the Heights” star Leslie Grace as Batgirl and starring Michael Keaton (returning as Batman), JK Simmons and Brendan Fraser . Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilal Fallah. Production ended in April.
Warner Bros. a decision, one without apparent parallel in Hollywood history, sent shockwaves through the industry. When a big-budget film doesn’t live up to the studio’s expectations, it’s usually sold out or quietly dumped with little fanfare. Batgirlgreenlit before WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery Inc., will instead simply not see the light of day after reportedly poor test screenings.
“We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it,” El Arbi and Falla said in a statement on Wednesday. “As filmmakers, it’s extremely important that our work is shown to the public, and although the film was far from finished, we wish fans around the world had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film for themselves. Perhaps one day I will insha Allah (God willing).”
The filmmakers signed their statement posted on Instagram, “Batgirl For Life.”
Under the leadership of the new CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery David Zaslav, Warner Bros. is changing its film release strategy and cutting costs. Under previous CEO Jason Killar and partly as a response to the pandemic, the studio implemented daily releases in 2021, launching movies simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Other movies like Batgirlare produced exclusively for HBO Max.
This year Warner Bros. reverted to exclusive theater windows for at least 45 days before sending movies to HBO Max. While Batgirl isn’t as expensive as many superhero movies, which typically cost $150-200 million to make, it’s a bigger budget movie for an HBO Max title. Zaslav argues that films with bigger budgets are best served by cinemas. But marketing a movie like Batgirl tens of millions more would be needed for such a release. Warner Bros. Discovery is scheduled to report second-quarter earnings on Thursday.
Representatives of Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment. The Batgirl the plans were first reported by the New York Post.
Warner Bros. also postponed Scoob!: Festive hauntalmost finished 2020 sequel Scoob! Producer and writer Tony Cervone confirmed in an Instagram post on Tuesday that Scoob! the film was canned.
“Yes, I’m afraid that’s true,” Cervone wrote. “The film is almost complete and it turned out beautifully. I’m more than heartbroken.’
The Batgirl The cancellation comes as Warner Bros. is trying to revamp its DC Films operations. While The Batman performed well earlier this year with $770.8 million in ticket sales, Warners’ DC releases have been erratic and plagued by controversy. The Flash, slated for release next June, stars Ezra Miller, who was arrested twice this year in Hawaii on disorderly conduct charges and on suspicion of assault.
Warner Bros. is hoping to reorganize and reset its DC pipeline—going bigger, not smaller, with its rival Marvel. Eventually, Batgirl did not fit these plans.
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