Actor JK Simmons has spoken out about the unexpected cancellation of the Batgirl film, describing the situation as "bizarre." The movie, which had completed filming, was shelved by Warner Bros. as part of a broader strategy that included utilizing tax write-offs, effectively preventing its release.
Simmons, who reprised his role as Commissioner Gordon in the project, reflected on his experience during an appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast. He noted that the film was largely completed and had received positive feedback from at least one test audience. "We really had a good time making it and, you know, thought it was going to be a fun superhero movie," Simmons stated, expressing his surprise at the business decision to scrap the project.
Michael Keaton, who was set to reprise his Batman role, offered a more pragmatic view. Keaton told GQ that he was not overly concerned by the cancellation, stating, "Big, fun, nice check." He expressed sympathy for the directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, acknowledging their disappointment.
While some reports have speculated about negative test screenings, Simmons suggested that the film's outcome was more a casualty of corporate decisions. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has defended the cancellation, with DC Studios head Peter Safran characterizing the film as "not releasable" and asserting that its cancellation was a "would have hurt DC."
With the DC Universe undergoing a reboot, the likelihood of Batgirl ever seeing the light of day appears slim. The directors have reportedly lost access to the footage, and the current leadership is unlikely to revisit a project deemed detrimental to the brand's future.