In August, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made a shocking decision that had a big impact on the industry – he cancelled the $90 million “Batgirl” film that had already been shot and was in early post-production.
The film’s cast and crew, including Leslie Grace as Batgirl, Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Jim Gordon and Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly, had spent months shooting the project in Scotland.
Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah had only a few pickups and some post-production work to do when the news came the project would be entirely scrapped as a tax write-off rather than releasing it directly on HBO Max as planned. To ensure that write-off, the film will be buried and never screened commercially.
Today, new behind-the-scenes photos have been released via Batgirl Film News showcasing what appears to be Grace’s ‘final’ costume for the film, which showcases a more technically advanced and proper super suit than the rougher jacket-like effort she wears throughout.
Photos of Grace in the earlier suit, posing alongside Fraser with his Firefly helmet on, and some older set photo shots of Keaton back in full Batman costume can be seen below. Adil & Bilall were reportedly in the first stage of the editing process when the film was cancelled.
Warner Bros. Pictures is proceeding with the rest of its 2023 theatrical slate for DC titles, including “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “The Flash,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” and “Blue Beetle”.
Happy New Year!@lesliegrace is kicking off 2023 showcasing what her second Batgirl suit would have looked like pic.twitter.com/ihzb7O8iEU
— Batgirl Film News (@BatgirlFilm) January 1, 2023
Here’s some more never before seen BTS shots of @lesliegrace in Batgirl.
What could have been pic.twitter.com/MC259Ckpbx
— Batgirl Film News (@BatgirlFilm) January 1, 2023
It’ll forever be a shame that Batgirl was cancelled. Keaton looks awesome as Batman in the updated Burton suit! pic.twitter.com/cfKzA5s8EQ
— 𝕂𝔼ℕ 𝕃𝕀𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕊𝕂𝕀 (@NorthernBrogre) December 27, 2022
