Michael Keaton Unfazed by 'Batgirl' Cancellation: "Big, Fun, Nice Check
August 20, 2024Michael Keaton expressed indifference towards the cancellation of the Batgirl film, stating in a GQ interview, 'No, I didn't care one way or another. Big, fun, nice check.'
Despite being mostly completed, Batgirl was canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery in August 2022, a decision attributed to a strategic shift in leadership regarding the DC universe.
This cancellation came during a major reorganization of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which has since been rebooted into the DC Universe (DCU) under the leadership of co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Brendan Fraser, who portrayed the villain Firefly, described the cancellation as 'tragic' and praised Leslie Grace's performance and the film's production quality.
Leslie Grace expressed pride in her work on Batgirl, highlighting the potential for a good film despite the challenges faced during production.
Keaton showed support for the film's directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, expressing sympathy for their disappointment and wishing them success in their future endeavors.
The directors referred to the shelving of Batgirl as the 'biggest disappointment of our careers,' noting they have no footage of the film due to studio restrictions.
Keaton was set to reprise his iconic role as Bruce Wayne alongside Leslie Grace's Batgirl in the film directed by El Arbi and Fallah.
DC Studios executives defended the cancellation, stating it was a necessary decision to protect the brand amid ongoing changes in the DC film landscape.
Batgirl was intended for release as part of the DCEU and was promoted at DC FanDome in fall 2021 before its unexpected cancellation.
The film had a budget exceeding $90 million, and reports indicated that test screenings did not go well, contributing to its cancellation.
Summary based on 8 sources
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Sources
Insider • Aug 19, 2024
Michael Keaton says scrapped 'Batgirl' movie was just another paycheckGameSpot • Aug 19, 2024
Michael Keaton Doesn't Care That Batgirl Got Canceled - "Big, Fun, Nice Check"Variety • Aug 19, 2024
Michael Keaton Didn't Care About Batgirl Being Killed: 'Big Fun Check'