Alongside the MCU, DC is also trying to establish a successful film universe with its comic brand. This has worked to varying degrees. Last year, a Batgirl film was supposed to be released, which was well advanced but ultimately never came out.
What was the plot of the Batgirl film? Officially, not much is known about the plot, but the actors and the roles were known.
- Leslie Grace was Batgirl, a relatively unknown actress who previously appeared in the musical film In the Heights
- Michael Keaton would have returned as Batman, who portrayed the Caped Crusader in the Tim Burton films
- Brendan Fraser would have played Firefly, a classic Batman villain who fights with fire as a former veteran
- J.K. Simmons would have been Commissioner Gordon again, as in Justice League
That sounds like a good cast, especially with Brendan Fraser, who was back in the spotlight thanks to The Whale. However, even though the film was shot, it was never finished and therefore never released.
Here you can see a trailer for the Batman film with Michael Keaton:
A release is not worthwhile
Why was the film canceled? There are many reasons why films can be canceled. Some films never get out of the conception phase, and a major issue is suddenly high costs or problems with the schedules of actors and directors.
In the case of Batgirl, the conception phase had long since passed. The film was shot in March 2022 and was thus in post-production, with an expected release on the streaming service HBO Max at the end of 2022. The costs amounted to nearly 90 million dollars, making it a rather small superhero film that was supposed to be released exclusively on the streaming service.
The reason for the project’s cancellation seems quite simple: saving money. Although it sounds strange not to release a film for which nearly 90 million dollars have already been spent, there are additional costs associated with film production beyond post-production.
As Variety reports on the subject, global marketing could have cost tens of millions of additional dollars. It is also questionable whether the film, not being as marketable as other major heroes due to its size, would have attracted many viewers to the streaming service.
Only a tax write-off left
The production of Batgirl had the unfortunate timing of being caught in the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery. This was accompanied by strategic changes in the handling of DC and comic adaptations, with James Gunn also being promoted to head of DC Studios.
As IndieWire reports on this, Batgirl and many other productions were likely treated as a tax write-off, allowing for significant savings on production costs. However, this has the negative effect that this film can never be released and cannot be sold to another studio either.
For the actors involved in the film, such a decision is naturally frustrating. Especially for a newcomer, this denies the opportunity to establish a foothold in a larger franchise. But Brendan Fraser in a villainous role would also have been an interesting aspect of the film.
These films are also likely never to be released:
