Warner Bros. made another misstep. Earlier this month, news broke that the $90 million film bat girl was dropped by the new CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav. This was reportedly done among other things to benefit from a tax cut and it fits into the larger context of the CEO aiming for $3 billion in planned cuts.
However, scrapping the film proved to be very unpopular among fans. The latest development in this story is the pushback from fans, who launched the #ReleaseBatgirl campaign online. Obviously, fans want to see the movie, however, for some reasons discussed below, that might not happen.
Related: ‘His Cowardice Is Breathtaking’: Anonymous Batgirl Actor Calls WB-Discovery CEO David Zaslav A Coward, Waiver Of Claims Was ‘Offensive’
Reasons Why Batgirl Might Never Be Released
Related: Warner Brothers Cancel Crusade Reportedly Was So Ruthless The Batgirl Crew Only Learned About The Cancellation After It Went Viral On Social Media
The film bat girl had a fascinating premise. Fans all over the world were thrilled to watch the movie. Alas, CEO David Zaslav had other plans. Even though the film was in post-production and not far from complete, it was scrapped, and the move earned them a lucrative tax cut. Soon many began to wonder if the movie could follow the fate of Zack Snyder’s Justice League who was eventually released.
However, this seems unlikely for several reasons. First, if Warner Bros. Discovery decides to go out bat girl they should give up the lucrative tax cut. The opportunity cost is too high for the production house to give in to fan demand. Second, the filmmakers apparently wouldn’t have access to any of the film’s footage.
Additionally, some have suggested that WB may actually destroy footage from the film in order to convince the IRS that the project will never make the production house any money. This would entitle them to a full tax cut, all at once.
Related: ‘We Didn’t Even Keep The Batman Scenes In It’: Batgirl Directors Completely Devastated After WB Discovery Removes Incomplete Film Footage, Proves David Zaslav Is A Ruthless Monster
The #ReleaseBatgirl campaign is going viral on the internet
Fans, meanwhile, are determined to make Warner Bros. Discovery to release the film. They started a #ReleaseBatgirl campaign on the internet. A few tweets have been reproduced below.
“OUR FILM WILL NOT BE CANCELED”
#bat girl directors @BilallFallah and Adil El Arbi explain what happened with the cancellation of the film. #ReleaseBatgirl pic.twitter.com/4nM9rgWhNT– Batgirl Movie News 🦇 (@BatgirlFilm) August 24, 2022
Want to go crazy?! COME ON!
Let’s be crazy !!!#ReleaseBatgirl pic.twitter.com/UYF0iEx5CX– Batgirl Movie News 🦇 (@BatgirlFilm) August 23, 2022
Pennyworth: The origin of Batman’s butler?
Shut up, put out the Batgirl movie, motherfuckers.— Phelan Porteous (@Phelous) August 19, 2022
The fact that Evil Dead Rise is getting a theatrical release when Batgirl was just buried somewhere is insane
— Writer Guy@Home (@ThatAberl) August 24, 2022
#bat girl receives “funeral screenings” before the footage is locked away. The screenings would be for people who worked on the film, both cast and crew, as well as reps and executives.#ReleaseBatgirl
(@THR) pic.twitter.com/JjQxoOASNZ
– Batgirl Movie News 🦇 (@BatgirlFilm) August 24, 2022
If they’re not going to cancel ‘The Flash’, they have to release ‘Batgirl’.
— HardCayndii10 🍭✨🍬 (@HardCayndii10) August 25, 2022
Also take out Batgirl at the cinema https://t.co/0wFCqPgfcu
— Maxance Vincent (@MaxFromQuebec) August 24, 2022
Would fan pressure outweigh financial prudence? It could. After all, a public relations debacle is not without cost. We will have to wait and watch.
Source: Twitter
Related: ‘No wonder Chris Nolan left them’: Warner Bros. Discovery faces plummeting $5.5 billion market cap after Batgirl and other projects canceled, accused of targeting minorities and alienate the best filmmakers
