Warner Bros. backs Batgirl and won’t release $90 million HBO Max movie

NEW YORK (AP) — In a highly unusual move that rocked Hollywood, Warner Bros. scrapped the “Batgirl” movie planned for HBO Max, opting to shelve the $90 million film as the reorganized studio revised its approach to streaming and DC Comics films.

The studio eventually decided that the almost-completed Batgirl didn’t deserve a streaming debut or a theatrical release. Warner Bros. instead chose to write off the film entirely, starring “In the Heights” star Leslie Grace as Batgirl and co-stars Michael Keaton (back as Batman), JK Simmons and Brendan Fraser. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Production ended in April.

Warner Brothers’ The decision, one with no apparent parallel in recent Hollywood history, sent shockwaves through the industry. When a film doesn’t live up to a studio’s expectations, it usually sells out or is silently and with little fanfare scrapped. “Batgirl,” green-lighted ahead of WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery Inc., just won’t see the light of day instead.

“The decision not to release Batgirl reflects the strategic shift in our leadership regarding the DC Universe and HBO Max,” a spokesman for Warner Bros. said in a statement, adding that Grace “is an incredibly talented actress and this decision is not a reflection of their performance.”

The filmmakers learned of the studio’s decision just before the story broke late Tuesday. An early cut of Batgirl recently underwent test screening. And while the results weren’t great, bad test scores weren’t uncommon for Warner Bros. DC releases, nor was post-production drama. Zack Snyder’s Justice League was recut and reshot by Joss Whedon before a fan campaign eventually led to the release of an edit of Snyder on HBO Max. The poorly received 2016 Suicide Squad was followed by James Gunn’s similarly titled 2021 relaunch The Suicide Squad.

“We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it,” El Arbi and Fallah said in a statement on Wednesday. “As directors, it is critical that our work is shown to audiences, and while the film was far from complete, we wish fans around the world had had the opportunity to see and enjoy the finished film for themselves. Maybe one day they will insha’Allah (if God wills).”

The directors signed their “Batgirl For Life” statement posted on Instagram.

Under new Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Warner Bros. is changing its strategy on film releases and cost-cutting. Under former CEO Jason Kilar, and in part in response to the pandemic, the studio rolled out day-and-date releases in 2021 and launched movies simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Other movies like Batgirl were produced exclusively for HBO Max.

This year, Warner Bros. has returned to exclusive theater windows for at least 45 days before films are sent to HBO Max. While Batgirl isn’t as expensive as many superhero films, which typically cost $150 million to $200 million to make, it’s a bigger budget film for an HBO Max title. Zaslav has maintained that larger budget films are best served by theatrical release. But marketing a movie like Batgirl for that kind of release would require tens of millions more. Warner Bros. Discovery will report second-quarter results on Thursday.

Warner Bros. also shelved Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, a near-complete sequel to 2020’s Scoob! is. I am beyond heartbroken.”

Batgirl’s cancellation comes as Warner Bros. seeks to overhaul its DC Films operations. While “The Batman” performed well earlier this year with $770.8 million in ticket sales, Warners’ DC releases have been unpredictable and plagued by controversy. The Flash, due for release next June, stars Ezra Miller, who has been arrested twice this year in Hawaii on two counts of disorderly conduct and on suspicion of assault.

Warner Bros. is hoping to reorganize and reset its DC pipeline – going bigger, not smaller, with its rival Marvel. The more humble, streaming-only Batgirl didn’t fit those plans.