Batgirl (film)
Unreleased DCEU film shelved after post-production.
Batgirl was an American superhero film that never saw release, centered on the DC Comics heroine Barbara Gordon, also known as Batgirl. The directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah handled the film, working from a script by Christina Hodson. Leslie Grace played the title role, with a supporting cast that included J. K. Simmons, Jacob Scipio, Brendan Fraser, Michael Keaton, and Ivory Aquino. The project was designed to fit within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), with Kristin Burr producing for DC Films and the streaming platform HBO Max. In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of DC Films and HBO Max, decided to pull the film from its release schedule after it had already entered post-production. This decision—shelving a nearly finished, big-budget movie from a major studio—was widely seen as unprecedented and sparked backlash from audiences, commentators, and some executives, while industry professionals showed support for the cast and crew. A few U.S. lawmakers even asked the Department of Justice to reconsider the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, citing business practices like this cancellation.
The story follows Barbara Gordon, the daughter of police commissioner James Gordon, who operates as a vigilante in Gotham City. Grace described the character as initially lacking "a lot of nuances in her thinking," swinging between clear-cut ideas of good versus evil and black-and-white beliefs, but noted that Barbara would "discover a lot about parts of herself" over the course of the narrative, causing her worldview to shift. J. K. Simmons reprised his role as James Gordon, the Gotham City Police Department commissioner and Barbara’s father, who is also a close ally of Batman. Simmons said the film would explore Gordon beyond his professional life, showing "much more of a domestic aspect" through his relationship with his daughter. Jacob Scipio played Anthony Bressi, a mob boss in Gotham. Brendan Fraser took on the role of Ted Carson, also known as Firefly, a disgruntled veteran turned sociopathic pyromaniac; Fraser noted that Carson’s backstory was original, not adapted from any previous version of the character. Michael Keaton returned as Bruce Wayne / Batman, a wealthy socialite from an alternate universe version of Gotham who fights crime as a vigilante. Ivory Aquino portrayed Alysia Yeoh, a bartender and Barbara’s best friend. Rebecca F
- Directed by
- Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah
- Screenplay by
- Christina Hodson
- Starring
- Leslie Grace, J. K. Simmons, Jacob Scipio, Brendan Fraser, Michael Keaton, Ivory Aquino
- Production companies
- DC Films, HBO Max
- Filming location
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Filming dates
- November 2021 – March 2022
- Status
- Unreleased (cancelled in post-production)
Lore & Background
Development of a Batgirl feature film began in March 2017 with Joss Whedon attached to write and direct, but he left the project a year later. Christina Hodson was hired to write a new script in April 2018, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah hired to direct in May 2021 when the film was confirmed as an HBO Max original. Leslie Grace was cast as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl in July 2021, with additional actors joining in the following months, including Michael Keaton reprising his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman from earlier films. Filming took place from November 2021 to March 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Reader's Guide
The film's cancellation in August 2022 by Warner Bros. Discovery, citing cost-cutting measures and a refocus on theatrical releases, was considered an unprecedented move for a nearly complete big-budget film from a major studio. The decision drew backlash from audiences, commentators, and some executives, while the cast and crew received support from industry professionals. Some United States lawmakers requested that the United States Department of Justice reconsider the WBD merger, citing its business practices including the cancellation of the film. The shelving of Batgirl remains a notable event in film history, highlighting the impact of corporate restructuring on creative projects.
Did You Know?
- The film was intended to be part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
- Michael Keaton reprised his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman from Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).
- Ivory Aquino played Alysia Yeoh, set to be the first major transgender character in a DC film.
- The villain Firefly was played by Brendan Fraser with an original backstory not adapted from existing material.
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