A new report indicates that Batgirl could be poised to pivot from an HBO Max exclusive to a theatrical release.
Warner Bros. is allegedly weighing up the best way to premiere the upcoming DC Extended Universe blockbuster, according to reliable industry news outlet Puck. The report indicates that studio chairman Toby Emmerich is considering whether debuting Batgirl in cinemas first could further the film's success in the wake of The Batman's impressive commercial performance. That film is said to have performed strongly on HBO Max even after raking in over $750 million at the box office, leading Emmerich to supposedly debate whether this hybrid approach could also work for Batgirl.
Batgirl wrapped filming in late March 2022, a milestone star Leslie Grace, who plays Barbara Gordon, celebrated with a heartfelt post on Instagram. With the movie now in post-production, it's rumored that Warner Bros. is mulling over whether to boost Batgirl's budget to improve the quality of its visual effects shots and music. This decision apparently hinges on where the film premieres, as the bigger budget will allegedly only happen in the event of a theatrical release.
Speculation regarding Batgirl's release continues to swirl as the DCEU film does not yet have a launch date. Producer Michael Uslan previously revealed Batgirl's approximate release window, assuring fans that the hotly-anticipated film will arrive in November or December 2022. Warner Bros. has not confirmed either date and will only say that Batgirl will arrive by the end of the year.
The studio is keeping its Batgirl cards close to its chest but Grace has been much more forthcoming about the movie's plot and character details. The star previously divulged that the film is "kind of like an investigative story, it's a detective story, so [Batgirl] does have a case that drives her into these crazy situations." Grace also elaborated on her character's emotional arc in the film, saying, "[Barbara Gordon] and this alter-ego that she summons up, Batgirl, vacillate between the nuances of life and good and bad and black and white, and that there so much in between."
While Batgirl has yet to premiere, Grace is eager to start work on a sequel. "We’ve already been talking about where do we take this [story] from here because there’s so much that happens in this film," she said about potential plans for Batgirl 2.
Batgirl is currently scheduled for release on HBO Max sometime in 2022.
Source: Puck