WB Shelves Batgirl Film, Will Not Release in Theaters or HBO Max Despite $90M Production

WB Shelves Batgirl Film, Will Not Release in Theaters or HBO Max Despite $90M Production

Warner Bros. Discovery has reportedly shelved the upcoming Batgirl film. The film was originally slated to release on HBO Max but after the WB/Discover merger, the film was said to be headed to theaters along with all other planned DC films that were set to hit the streaming service directly. The reports state that despite the hefty $90M production costs, the film did not receive favorable responses in the test screenings which led Warner Bros. Discovery to ax the project.

The film starred Leslie Grace and was helmed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a script written by Christina Hodson and Kristin Burr. The film was set to also star Brendan Fraser as Firefly with J.K. Simmons returning to reprise his role as Jim Gordon as well.

The DC Extended Universe has been a sore subject for fans for quite some time with many comparisons to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that seems to be swimming in profits like Scrooge McDuck. Although the debate is ongoing as to which film universe is best, as a production company, you cannot argue that Marvel finds itself in a much better place than its DC counterpart has yet to find its identity even after pulling off successful films such as Wonder Woman and Shazam.

Reports state that Warner Bros. Discovery is in search of someone to steer this ship in the right direction in the same sense that Kevin Feige has done for Marvel Studios, this is something that is desperately needed to bring some justice to the rich universe created by DC Comics. Sadly, it didn’t come in time to save the Batgirl film.

Warner Bros. Discovery still has a slate of films releasing in the DCEU as the previously HBO Max planned release of Blue Beetle continues to move towards a theater release and the highly-anticipated films Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom make their way to theaters. Stay tuned as more develops on the future of the DC Extended Universe.

Source: The Wrap