HBO Max's Batgirl film may have been scrapped, but audiences are still getting a look at plenty of scenes and costumes that could have been, with the most recent glimpse shared by star Leslie Grace herself on social media, featuring an upgraded suit.
As part of Grace's end-of-the-year video on Instagram, the actor shared a brief clip featuring her in a trailer, enjoying some food while wearing an armored Batgirl suit, differing somewhat from the design shown in released marketing material. The suit includes armor plates, rather than a zipped leather jacket. It also includes gold armor gloves and a purple finish.
Batgirl's Cancellation
News of Batgirl's cancellation emerged in August amid major shifts occurring all across Warner Bros. Discovery and its numerous divisions. Early on, there were conflicting reports about the reasons behind the cancellation. While some insiders suggested it was scrapped after a poor performance with test audiences, others claimed, "Studio insiders insist the decision was not driven by the quality of the film or the commitment of the filmmakers, but by the desire for the studio’s slate of DC features to be at a blockbuster scale."
The decision to scrap the film resulted in immense backlash from virtually everyone, ranging from audiences, industry figures, those involved with the film and even politicians. An anonymous cast member on Batgirl was reported to have praised Grace and discussed the hardships of filming the project, going on to say, "None of these things matter to an imbecile like [Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav]. His cowardice is breathtaking. I am glad I got to participate and I wish the best for all those involved -- except the suits at Warner Brothers. But they all get replaced sooner than later."
Batgirl May Live Yet
Following the restructuring and rebranding of DC Films, now DC Studios, directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi expressed hope that the film could still be saved and that the Oscar buzz surrounding star Brendan Fraser might help rewrite the fate of Batgirl, praising his performance as the film's antagonist, Firefly.
Moreover, Fallah and El Arbi previously revealed that DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran reached out and scheduled a meeting. The date of that meeting has not been revealed and no announcement has yet been made, at the time of writing. The directing duo only said, "It felt like all the artists were supporting us and that’s great feeling, because you feel like you’re not alone."
Source: Instagram