As the fallout from Warner Bros. Discover's recent decision to scrap the Batgirl movie continues, Rolling Stone has published its own report on the shocking news, and it sounds like The DCEU may be in even more trouble than we realized.
We had heard that Batgirl was received positively enough after its one and only test screening, but that seems to be dependant on who you happen to ask. According to this latest report, one source likened the film to “a bad episode of TV,” while another said “it’s definitely not theatrical.”
These negative assessments were seemingly enough to derail the film'[s chances of seeing the light of day, since WBD head David Zaslav has handed down a mandate that DC films should be "released theatrically or not at all."
It may not only be streaming projects facing the chop, however, as the site adds that the currently in-development Supergirl movie starring Sasha Calle is not likely to move forward. Further delays may also be handed down to the likes of Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and while The Flash is still on track for a 2023 release, nothing is set in stone after the multiple accusations facing star Ezra Miller.
Batgirl being shelved is said to have "blindsided" the cast (we've yet to hear from lead Leslie Grace), and it leaves Michael Keaton's future as Batman up in the air. The Birdman actor was reportedly "being positioned as akin to Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — an elder statesman who could pop up in multiple films and offer guidance."
Keaton was also going to appear in the Aquaman sequel, but because test audiences found his involvement "confusing," Ben Affleck was seemingly brought in to replace him. Warner Bros. never seemed to have a well-thought-out plan for its DC Films Universe, and things only appear to have gotten worse since this Discovery merger and change of leadership at the studio.