Brendan Fraser Disappointed by Batgirl Film Shelving

Actor Brendan Fraser expressed deep disappointment over Warner Bros. Discovery's 2022 decision to shelve the completed Batgirl film, in which he starred as the villain Firefly, calling the move a tragedy that deprives a generation of young girls of a relatable superheroine. In an interview with the Associated Press on November 19, Fraser highlighted the cultural and creative losses from the cancellation of the project, which was filmed in Scotland and featured Leslie Grace in the lead role as Barbara Gordon, also known as Batgirl.

The film, directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, entered production in November 2021 and wrapped principal photography in Glasgow by March 2022, with a reported budget of around $90 million. It was intended as the next chapter in the DC Extended Universe, introducing Grace as the first Batgirl to headline her own movie. The cast also included J.K. Simmons reprising his role as Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, Jacob Scipio as Anthony Bressi, and Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh, marking the first openly transgender character in a live-action DC Comics adaptation. Aquino, who is transgender, brought additional representation to the project. Michael...