Batgirl Directors Debunk Rumors Movie Was Cancelled Over Poor Quality

Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah debunk rumors the movie was canceled due to poor quality. Originally developed under the supervision of Joss Whedon, El Arbi and Fallah were later hired by Warner Bros. to helm the DC movie after Whedon's exit, with plans to release Batgirl on HBO Max. Leslie Grace was set to star as Barbara Gordon, with J.K. Simmons and Michael Keaton returning as Commissioner Gordon and Batman, respectively. Filming on Batgirl wrapped earlier this year. The movie was in post-production when news broke, earlier this month, that Batgirl had been suddenly cancelled.

The movie's cancellation sparked plenty of backlash online, with fans and key industry figures like Kevin Smith criticizing the move. Soon, reports broke out that the decision was made because the initial screenings for Batgirl tested poorly. Later, it was stated that the difficult decision was taken as the newly-minted conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery seeks to course-correct the studio's streaming release strategy. However, the statement by Warner Bros. Discovery did not necessarily put rumors about Batgirl's quality issues to rest after new CEO David Zaslav spoke about not releasing a movie until the studio has full confidence in it, leading to more confusion.

However, in a new interview with skript_fr on TikTok, El Arbi and Fallah have cleared the air about Batgirl's substandard quality. As the filmmakers note, they received word from Warner Bros. that the movie being scrapped had nothing to do with those involved. Read what the Batgirl directors said below.

"The guys from Warner told us, it was not a talent problem from our part or the actress, or even the quality of the movie. We were right in the middle of editing... They told us, it was a strategic change. A shifting in the management."

While rumors have persisted about the quality of Batgirl not being up to the mark, there has never really been any concrete evidence to support those reports. Batgirl's test screening score was reportedly the same as Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which is a considerable feat considering the former movie's meager $90 million budget and its non-theatrical scope. Both Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods are still on track to debut later this year. Some have might have misjudged the caliber of Batgirl based on early images of Grace's costume, which sparked some accusations of a lower quality. Overall, though, the set images and story details have all proved otherwise.

El Arbi, Fallah, and Grace's work on Batgirl have been praised by all closely associated with the movie, with stars Ivory Aquinox and Jud Harron shedding light on the remarkable efforts that went into creating Batgirl. Considering the cast and crew were both so confident about the movie, arguments about it being a bad film don't seem to hold much water. The film may not have been as big of a visual spectacle as The Batman, but still, it appears it was a good enough project in its own right. It could have pleased those longing for a modest origin story for Barbara Gordon. That said, there are also reports that Warner Bros. Discovery is eyeing new deals with El Arbi, Fallah, and Grace. Right now, there is no confirmation regarding that, but if contracts do materialize, it would further prove that inferior quality was not the cause behind the Batgirl cancellation.