Why Brendan Fraser Is Still Furious About Batgirl Movie Cancellation

Brendan Fraser has spoken out about the shelving of the Batgirl movie, calling it a missed opportunity for young fans. The film starred Leslie Grace as Batgirl and included Michael Keaton, J.K. Simmons, Jacob Scipio, Fraser, and Ivory Aquino. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the project was completed but never released.

Fraser told the Associated Press, “A whole movie. I mean, there were four floors of production in Glasgow. I was sneaking into the art department just to geek out. The tragedy of that is that there’s a generation of little girls who don’t have a heroine to look up to and go, ‘She looks like me.’”

He criticized the decision to shelve the film, saying, “The product — I’m sorry, ‘content’ — is being commodified to the extent that it’s more valuable to burn it down and get the insurance on it than to give it a shot in the marketplace.”

The film had been in development since 2017, initially with Joss Whedon attached to write and direct. Christina Hodson later wrote a new script, and El Arbi and Fallah were confirmed as directors in 2021. Leslie Grace was cast as Batgirl, and Michael Keaton returned as Batman. Filming took place in Glasgow, Scotland, from November 2021 to March 2022.

In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the film would not be released. The official reasoning was part of broader cost-cutting measures and a new focus on theatrical releases, rather than streaming.

Some outlets, including Collider and Rolling Stone, reported that negative responses from test screenings influenced the decision, while others like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter said it was mainly a financial move. The movie’s budget had increased from $70 million to $90 million, and the studio reportedly chose to write it off for tax purposes.

Industry reactions were mixed. Many fans, commentators, and even some executives criticized the decision, while filmmakers and actors received support. Some U.S. lawmakers even questioned the WarnerMedia–Discovery merger because of how the studio handled Batgirl.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!