Brendan Fraser's Mind-Blowing Performance in DC's Infamous Canceled Film Will Leave You Speechless

Summary

Batgirl movie with Brendan Fraser as Firefly was canceled, disappointing fans who were eager to see his potentially Oscar-worthy performance in the film.

Due to its low budget, the movie centered its story on Batgirl, Gotham City, and Michael Keaton's Batman. However, the cancellation of Batgirl was a result of Warner Bros. Discovery's cost-cutting efforts and their intention to use the film as a tax write-off, making its release highly improbable.

According to the directors of the Batgirl movie, Brendan Fraser would have delivered an unforgettable performance in the canceled DCEU film. The unexpected cancellation of the already-filmed Batgirl movie, which starred Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, was announced by Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, known for their work on Ms. Marvel, the DCEU installment intended to delve into the origin story of the young hero from Gotham City.

If Batgirl hadn't been scrapped, the film would have also marked the cinematic debut of Fraser as the villainous Firefly, a longtime adversary of Batman. In a recent interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, El Arbi expressed his regret about the lost opportunity and praised Fraser, describing his performance as "Oscar-worthy." Despite the movie's limited budget, the director emphasized that it would have presented a grounded story and further explored the Bat-Family dynamic through Grace's Barbara and Michael Keaton's Batman. El Arbi shared the following insights on the project.

Why Batgirl Was Canceled (& Why You'll Never See It)

It's difficult to determine the exact reasons, but the movie's limited budget played a significant role in shaping its outcome. Given our need to work within tight financial constraints, we opted for a grounded storyline. However, the relatively low budget may have actually contributed to its success. The Bat family, including Batgirl and the captivating Gotham City, has a dedicated fan base. Additionally, Michael Keaton's portrayal of the character and Brendan Fraser's exceptional performance are deserving of accolades, even potentially an Oscar. Moreover, since the movie was intended for streaming, it offered us certain creative liberties that are not usually available in theaters. Had it been a theatrical release, we might have needed to incorporate grander action sequences. Unfortunately, we will never know for sure. We sincerely hope to have the opportunity to return to the DC universe and showcase our true capabilities. It feels like unfinished business that we are determined to resolve one day.

The cancellation of Batgirl can be traced back to a few key factors. When Warner Bros. Discovery underwent a change in leadership with David Zaslav and his team, the studio determined that it was not financially viable to produce a movie for HBO Max (now known as Max) with the budget it had at that time. The decision to axe Batgirl also aligned with Warner Bros. Discovery's cost-cutting efforts, which resulted in the cancellation of several other projects from the studio.

Warner Bros. Discovery utilized Batgirl as a means to offset their tax expenses incurred from the DCEU movie. However, this decision has essentially cancelled any possibility of the film being released on Max or in theaters. By turning it into a theatrical production, Warner Bros. Discovery would incur additional expenses. Therefore, the only available glimpses of the Batgirl movie are the previously shared set photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes posts from the cast and crew.

Although the standalone Batgirl film may never see the light of day, it doesn't mean that the character has lost her opportunity for a cinematic adventure. With the upcoming DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, it is highly likely that Barbara will eventually have a role in this new franchise. It is uncertain whether Leslie or another actor will portray her post-Batgirl, but currently, we must wait to see what the future holds for the DC hero's live-action prospects.

Source: Yahoo! Entertainment