The news of the cancellation of Batgirl came as a shock to DC fans all over the world, and the directors behind this now-shelved project have now spoken up regarding the same. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who were helming the project, also said that as filmmakers, it is important to be able to show audiences their work. They also hope that one day, this chance might arrive.
Here’s a look at the joint statement the director duo posted on Instagram:
The film was scrapped on Tuesday by Warner Brothers Discovery as the company has now opted for cost-cutting measures post the appointment of the new CEO, David Zazlav. Hollywood Reporter says that the company is now moving away from streamable media to focus more on theatrical releases. Notably, Warner Brothers also canned the film Scoob! Holiday Haunt.
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Batgirl had a stellar cast, led by Leslie Grace in the titular role. Moreover, Michael Keaton, who had appeared as Batman in the 1989 film by Tim Burton, was set to reprise his role in the project. JK Simmons and Brendan Fraser also portrayed important characters. Grace herself took to Instagram on hearing the news, saying, “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”. Have a look at her post here:
Regarding the cancellation of the project, a Warner Brothers spokesperson said, “We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future”.
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Adil & Bilall, who had earlier helmed the Will Smith-starrer Bad Boys For Life, said that it was an honour for them to have been associated with the DC Universe, albeit for a short while. The director duo had also recently released their film Rebel to considerable critical acclaim. The movie was screened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival out of competition.