Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
Leslie Gracewas to play the film’s heroine for the HBO Max film, but fans were left shocked when it was confirmed that Warner Bros. pulled the project, despite the fact that most of the production had been completed.
Speaking withVarietyat a Jan. 30 press eventon the film’s cancellation, DC Studios' new co-chair Peter Safran said he was on board with the film’s termination.
“Batgirl’s a character that inevitably we will include in our story,” Safran said. “On theBatgirlfront… I saw the movie, and there are a lot of incredibly talented people in front of and behind the camera on that film. But that film was not releasable, and it happens sometimes.”
“That film was not releasable,” the studio head repeated. “I actually think that [president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery David] Zaslav and the team made a very bold and courageous decision to cancel it because it would have hurt DC. It would have hurt those people involved.”
“It would not have been able to compete in the theatrical marketplace; it was built for the small screen,” Safran expanded, saying that he holds no ill will against directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, and “would love” to work with both of them in the future.
Dave J Hogan/Getty
The film initially received a $75 million production budget, but then ventured into $90 million territory, partially due to COVID-related delays,perVariety.According to the outlet, the film had finished principal photography earlier last year and was already in post-production.
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Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who also directed 2020’sBad Boys for Life, spoke out in astatementshared on Instagram Aug. 3.
Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.Alexander Tamargo/Getty
“Our amazing cast and crew did a tremendous job and worked so hard to bring Batgirl to life,” the directors added. “We are forever grateful to have been part of that team. It was a dream to work with such fantastic actors like Michael Keaton, J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, Jacob Scipio, Corey Johnson, Rebecca Front and especially the great Leslie Grace, who portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication and humanity.”
In a statement toThe Wrap, a Warner Bros. Pictures spokesperson said, “The decision to not releaseBatgirlreflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max. Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance.”
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
