Scary Dad
News hit this week that Warner chief David Zaslav had opted to bury “Batgirl”, which was in post, rather than release and, consequently, spend money on marketing it.
During today’s Q2 investor call Q&A, the head man at Warner Bros. Discovery responded to the controversy by simply stating the company will not be releasing any films that he doesn’t think are up to scratch.
“Our ambition to is bring Warners back and produce great, high-quality films,” he said. “We can build a long-term sustainable growth business out of DC. We’re not releasing a film before it’s ready. The focus is to make these films as good as possible,” he added.
Warner Bros confirmed this week they don’t plan on releasing “Batgirl”, the feature adaptation of the DC Title starring Leslie Grace, Michael Keaton, J.K Simmons, and Brendan Fraser. Per the trades, the title no longer passed the grade with new studio boss David Zaslav, who’d prefer to bury the movie – which is in post! – rather than release it on HBO Max as planned. According to this report, it’s much more economical for WB to write the film off on tax than it would be to release it at all.
What did audiences miss out on? Per test screenings, something rather fun by the sounds. Not only did the film feature Michael Keaton in no less than 5 scenes as Batman, reprising a role he performs in next year’s “The Flash”, but the film features comeback king Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly.
“Batgirl” directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have responded to the news, understandably gutted.
“We are saddened and shocked by the news,” the duo wrote on Instagram. “We still can’t believe it. As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences, and while the film was far from finished, we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves. Maybe one day they will Insha’Allah.”
“In any case, as huge fans of Batman since we were little kids, it was a privilege and an honor to have been a part of the DCEU, even if it was for a brief moment,” the statement concluded. “Batgirl For Life.”
