It's been a rough couple of weeks for the cast and crew of DC's Batgirl film after Warner Bros. Discovery unceremoniously axed the project. Understandably, the people behind the film are in a state of bewilderment following the decision but according to sources, the studio doesn't see any profit in the film which was initially intended for release through HBO Max.
This week, we learned that WB Discovery has denied directors El Arbi and Bilall Fallah access to the server and as it stands, there is no way for them to retrieve footage from the film which was undergoing post-production work prior to its cancelation. Shockingly enough, the studio has apparently deleted every footage available but current plans call for the film to be screened at the WB lot before being vaulted for good.
Now, one of the film's stars is expressing her dismay over the film's unfortunate fate. In a lengthy Twitter thread, actress Ivory Aquino who played Barbara Gordon's best friend Alysia Yeoh posted an open letter directed at Zaslav and the studio in hopes of them reconsidering the project's release. According to Aquino, the abrupt cancelation of the film has affected their morale and she believes Batgirl deserves to be seen.
Also Read: Batgirl Directors Recall Film’s ‘Harsh’ and ‘Painful’ Cancelation in Emotional Video
It'll be interesting to see if Aquino's plea will give Zaslav a change of heart but with the CEO committed to restructuring the DC Extended Universe with a 10-year plan, I wouldn't exactly bet on it. But who knows, maybe the ongoing fan movement can help Batgirl see the light of day. I mean, we all know how beneficial the fandom was for Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Prior to its cancelation, WB was reportedly considering a theatrical release for Batgirl.