Due to the fact that there are currently more channels via which films can be distributed than ever before, it is becoming an increasingly uncommon occurrence for a finished movie to be genuinely destroyed without any possible outlet for distribution. However, according to Variety, this is exactly what Warner Bros. is planning to accomplish with Batgirl, which is a superhero film starring Leslie Grace and will be directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who were the directors of Bad Boys for Life.
According to sources quoted by Variety, the decision to shelve the movie was not based on the quality of the film itself, but rather on the fact that its more modest scope and budget does not fit in with plans for future DC Comics movies, which are intended to be zeitgeist-dominating event pictures. The present content strategy of the studio does not involve spending a significant amount of money on direct-to-streaming feature films, as stated by The Hollywood Reporter. Both Black Adam, starring Dwyane Johnson, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, a sequel to 2019's unexpected box office success, are scheduled to be released by DC Comics before the year 2022 comes to a close.
The comparison between Batgirl and the Shazam! franchise is an interesting one to consider. The superhero movie that was released in theaters in 2019 had a budget that was expected to be between $80 million and $100 million, which is fairly cheap for a picture of this nature. According to Variety, the budget for Batgirl was initially set at $75 million, but by the time it entered post-production, it had come closer to $90 million, which would seem to put it squarely in the Shazam! Zone.
The film's directors have expressed their displeasure with the decision to suspend the project in an Instagram post. "As directors, it is essential that our work be exposed to audiences," they wrote in the letter, "and while the film was far from done, we would that fans all around the world would have had the opportunity to see and love the final picture firsthand."
Batgirl was primed to be a big-deal release in its own right, despite having a budget that was reasonably affordable and being made available via streaming. As part of the supporting cast, J.K. Simmons played the role of Commissioner Gordon once again, and internet darling Brendan Fraser was cast in the role of the villain. However, the biggest Big Deal was the return of Michael Keaton as Batman, which marked the actor's first appearance in the role in more than three decades. Keaton is also scheduled to feature in The Flash, a superhero epic that has a budget of $200 million and includes the controversial actor Ezra Miller, whose ongoing legal problem has dominated news in 2022. Keaton's appearance in The Flash adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.
The announcement of Batgirl takes place during a time of transition and upheaval at Warner. A number of the company's most prominent executives, including Chief Executive Officer Jason Kilar and Head of HBO Max Andy Forssell, have decided to leave in preparation for the impending merger with Discovery. By the year 2021, Warner attempted to release significant motion pictures such as Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. However, the company decided to abandon this practice during the year 2022, with Kilar acknowledging that the approach was not properly executed. According to an article published by Deadline, the decision to cancel the Batgirl series was made because David Zaslav, who succeeded Kilar as CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, wanted to distance the company from Kilar's leadership while also taking advantage of a move known as "purchase accounting," which was only available for a short window of time. In recent weeks, Warner Bros. has withdrawn several streaming-exclusive features from HBO Max. This decision, which might be interpreted as a hint of the studio's future plans, comes as rumors continue to spread that the service will stop producing HBO Max original content entirely.
These headline-grabbing moves are an echo of the instability that has been a regular theme throughout the year 2022 about streaming cinema. The Hollywood Reporter published an article in June stating that the Netflix company was changing its strategy and would be giving the green light to fewer large budget projects from name-brand filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese's The Irishman. The article also stated that the company would be changing its name to "Netflix and Chill." Peacock reportedly did not add any paid subscribers in the second quarter of 2022, while Disney+ has experienced growth that has exceeded expectations, but its Ms. Marvel series is not reaching the same lofty viewership heights as previous programs. The stock value of the troubled streamer has decreased this year. Peacock reportedly did not add any paid subscribers in the second quarter of 2022.
