In a surprising flip of occasions, HBO Max’s Batgirl film which was shot months in the past and supposedly nearing completion, won’t be launched in spite of everything. In keeping with stories, Warner Bros. plans to shelve the film indefinitely — even though they spent at the least $75 million on it (and maybe as a lot as $90 million after Covid-related delays get factored in).
The film, which was to star Leslie Grace because the title character and likewise featured an look by Michael Keaton as Batman, was presupposed to be one in every of DC Comics’ largest titles up to now for the HBO Max streaming service. As a substitute, the film has been canceled and can by no means see the sunshine of day.
So why would Warner Bros. spend $90 million on a film after which simply not launch it? In keeping with Selection, the movie grew to become a sufferer of the change of management on the firm, which was just lately acquired by Discovery. The brand new of us in cost have shifted their philosophy on the subject of motion pictures. The brand new Warner Bros. Discovery needs to refocus on big-budget tentpoles for theaters — not exclusives for streaming, as was the follow lately below the earlier Warners regime. And Batgirl was reportedly deemed not sufficiently big to turn into a theatrical launch. As they put it…
Spending the cash to increase the scope of “Batgirl” for theaters — plus the $30 million to $50 million wanted to promote it domestically and the tens of tens of millions extra wanted for a worldwide rollout — may have almost doubled spending on the movie, and insiders say that was a non-starter at an organization newly centered on belt-tightening and the underside line.
Theoretically, Warner Bros. may nonetheless have put the film on HBO Max with out making any main alterations. By as an alternative placing the film on the shelf, it allows the brand new mixed firm to “take a tax write-down” on the movie in addition to a computer-animated Scooby-Doo film that was additionally in manufacturing and is additionally getting canned. In the event that they launched the movie in any manner, they couldn’t do this.
It’s nonetheless a surprising bit of stories for a film that a couple of months in the past seemed like maybe the beginning of a brand new franchise. It has Michael Keaton as Batman in it! Are you able to think about an organization bringing Keaton again as Batman after 30 years after which simply not releasing the film? It’s wild, however that’s apparently what’s occurring.
Batgirl is scheduled to be launched on HBO Max … by no means. Until one thing adjustments, we may by no means see it.
DC Comics That Can’t Grow to be DC Motion pictures
These widespread DC Comics titles can by no means get their very own DC motion pictures. (Sorry.)
