Earlier this week, we learned that Warner Bros. Discovery had decided to pull the plug on Batgirl. We've heard a lot of different reasons for the decision since then, but the move is one that's sent shockwaves through Hollywood (and actually damaged the DC brand significantly more than another potentially disappointing movie might have done).
Among Batgirl's stars was Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh, a trans character who is Babara Gordon's best friend and, eventually, a vigilante in her own right.
Aquino was also set to be the first trans actor in a leading role in the DC Extended Universe, a huge step forward for diversity and inclusion in the superhero genre. Now, though, we'll never get to see her performance or the movie. In response to that, the actor has shared some new behind-the-scenes photos, including Commissioner Gordon celebrating Christmas.
"Batgirl was truly a labor of love we were excited [and] eager to share with you all who’ve championed this inspiring character [and] our fam of nontraditional underrepresented peeps having the opportunity to share with the world that anyone [and] everyone can be a superhero," Aquino said in a recent Instagram post.
A female-written female-produced film starring an Afro-Latina (angel!) [and] directed by Muslim Moroccan-Belgian wunderkinds (with a female assistant director) about a female character (as imagined by a female comic book writer) who forges her own path to uplift the lives of those around her including her trans best friend, deserves to be seen & will find a way."
"There is no price tag on that," she concludes.
Unfortunately, there was a price tag on the movie in the eyes of Warner Bros. Discovery, and it was one the studio simply wasn't willing to pay. It feels like a huge mistake on their part, but we don't anticipate anything changing (even with #ReleaseBatgirl picking up momentum online).
Check out Aquino's photos below: