Warner Bros.' decision to release its entire 2021 slate on HBO Max at the same time those movies hit theaters may have resulted in an increase in subscription numbers to the streaming platform, but it also made a massive dent in box office revenue and upset a lot of actors and filmmakers in the process.
The Batman recently hit HBO Max just 45 days after arriving in theaters, but with over $750 million at the box office, this new approach definitely seems to be paying off for the studio.
That could lead to another shift, as Puck is reporting that WarnerMedia (which was recently acquired by Discovery) is debating whether to release Batgirl theatrically. Former CEO Jason Kilar's plan had been for the movie to be an HBO Max exclusive, though with an A-list cast and Michael Keaton once again suiting up as Batman, many have wondered where the sense is in making it a "TV movie."
Batgirl is said to have cost $70 million to produce, making it suitable for streaming but also a movie that's likely to turn quite a profit with a theatrical release. As a result, it's said that Warner Bros. is seriously considering spending a little more money on visual effects, the soundtrack, and the eventual marketing campaign in order to capitalise on the success of The Batman and net a major profit.
With Leslie Grace cast as Barbara Gordon, it feels right for Batgirl to be given the big screen treatment, so fingers crossed that's the plan here. We'd anticipated the movie arriving on HBO Max this December after The Flash reboots the DCEU, but with that pushed to June 2023, we could be waiting a while to see this one regardless of what size screen the DC Comics adaptation eventually arrives on.
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.