This will be great news to some, and sad news to others, but after a big announcement last year, Joss Whedon has exited the Batgirl movie, according to the The Hollywood Reporter. In a statement, Whedon said “Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story. I’m grateful to Geoff (Johns) and Toby (Emmerich) and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?”
The report goes on to say that Whedon couldn’t “crack the code for what the Batgirl story should be.” Which was what was similar to what he said years ago with his Wonder Woman script. The truth is, Whedon was facing a ton of scrutiny making this project in 2018. A white male taking on a female led superhero just wouldn’t fly in today’s climate, and Twitter would simply have a field day with every aspect of the making of this movie, especially after personal scandals rocked Whedon’s world last year. After Justice League, it’s probably the last thing Warner Brothers wants to deal with.
So what happens to the Batgirl movie now? The only reason it was even happening in the first place was because Whedon wanted to do it, but now Warners is committed to making this — if they don’t make it because he steps down, when there are several female filmmakers who would no doubt want to tell the story of Barbara Gordon, it will look really bad. Especially in light of Wonder Woman’s success. And rumors suggest that it is definitely one of the films WB wants made, so I think Batgirl will happen one way or the other.
As for what’s next for Whedon, he’s returning to his signature creation Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a new Dark Horse Comics series, and after that? Who knows. He really belongs showrunning a series, so hopefully that’s where he lands next.
Who do you want to see write and direct Batgirl now? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.
Images: DC Comics / Warner Brothers
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