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‘Batgirl’ Lead Star Leslie Grace, Directors Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah Release Statement Following Movie’s Shock Cancelation


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Credit: Entertainment Tonight/YouTube Screenshot

DC fans would be disappointed to know that the Batgirl movie that was supposed to air on HBO Max will no longer be released. According to several reports, there were issues with the movie’s $80 million budget after the production added $10 million to cover COVID-19 protocols.

Other sources claimed that the cancelation had to do with the low rating that Batgirl received after an early version of the movie was test screened. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Batgirl landed a score in the low 60s, but it is important to note that the movie was only screen tested once.

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Batgirl Lead Star Leslie Grace Grateful For The Opportunity To Play The Lead Character

Following the shock cancelation, lead star Leslie Grace released a statement where she thanked everyone who worked hard on making Batgirl possible.

“Querida familia! On the heels of the recent news about our movie Batgirl, I am proud of the love, hard work, and intention all of our incredible cast and tireless crew put into this film over 7 months in Scotland. I feel blessed to have worked among absolute greats and forged relationships for a lifetime in the process! To every Batgirl fan - THANK YOU for the love and belief, allowing me to take on the cape and become, as Babs said best, ‘my own damn hero!’” she said (via AV Club).

Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were also saddened and shocked by the sudden cancelation.

“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 the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves. Maybe one day they will insha’Allah,” they said in a statement.

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Why Batgirl Was Canceled By Warner Bros. And HBO Max

Meanwhile, even though Batgirl was meant to break barriers because it’s the first DC movie to headline a Latina actress, the film did not fare well among critics. According to The New York Post, Batgirl was unspeakable, irredeemable, and a DC disaster that could’ve damaged the franchise.

However, Variety argued that the cancelation did not have anything to do with the quality of Batgirl. Rather, it is being dubbed as a strategic move by CEO David Zaslav following the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery organization.

The CEO reportedly wants that all DC movies are theatrical releases on a blockbuster scale.

As of writing, it’s unclear if Batgirl will eventually be released in theaters. But according to Polygon, the idea was already pitched to the studio, but it didn’t materialize that’s why it was tied with HBO Max.

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