Batgirl Cancellation Sparks Fear Over More Upcoming DC Movies' Fate

DC fans are worried that Blue Beetle and Black Canary might also get canceled after Batgirl. After a long road to development, Batgirl was set to mark Barbara Gordon's first solo live-action outing with In The Heights actress Leslie Grace playing the title role and Bad Boys for Life duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directing. The movie completed filming and was in post-production, but on Tuesday, a report sent shockwaves across Hollywood and the DC fanbase after it was announced that WB has cancelled Batgirl with no plans to release it theatrically or on HBO Max. It was reported that the decision resulted from a change in leadership at WB, with the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery restrategizing to prioritize cost-cutting and theatrical releases over streaming projects.

Soon after the movie was announced, two other films, Blue Beetle and Black Canary, were also confirmed to be in development as HBO Max exclusives, although WB ultimately ended up securing a theatrical window for the former. Blue Beetle stars Xolo Maridueña and is directed by Angel Manuel Soto. The movie completed filming last month and is currently in post-production. As for Black Canary, it will reportedly see Jurnee Smollett-Bell reprise her Dinah Lance role from Birds of Prey, with her Lovecraft Country collaborator Misha Green attached as the writer. The two films are highly anticipated, but the recent news has worried their fans.

The setback with Batgirl has set off chaos and angst among the DC fanbase, and many are now anxious about Blue Beetle and Black Canary potentially facing the same fate as the cancelled movie. Fans have taken to Twitter to express their fears, with some also launching campaigns to save the upcoming films. Take a look at some of their apprehensive reactions below.

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Without a clear explanation from WB about its strategy and plans for DCEU's future, fans' nerves for Black Canary and Blue Beetle are arguable valid. As many point out, the rare scrapping of Batgirl when it was nearly complete means that no other upcoming DCEU is completely safe, especially the ones centered on the more obscure heroes and comics. In fact, it's not just Blue Beetle and Black Canary that are at potential risk of ending up on the chopping floor. The status of many other planned movies and TV shows, including Zatanna, Static Shock, and Green Lantern, could also be bleak considering they lack the cinematic appeal that Warner Bros. Discovery is hoping to accrue with its upcoming slate.

There is a high possibility that all other DCEU projects in development are out of harm's way, but since the blow of Batgirl's cancelations is still very fresh, it's hard for fans not to lose confidence. Part of the hysteria has been provoked by Soto's social media activity, as he has been frantically liking tweets that comprise hashtags calling to protect Blue Beetle. It's possible that the director is showing his appreciation for the support, but it still makes sense why fans are so worried. Considering that Blue Beetle received a theatrical window before it commenced production, the movie must have been developed as a larger cinematic event than a streaming film. The chances of it getting shelved seem relatively slim. As for Black Canary, nothing can be said for certain since updates have been scant. There is still the opportunity to develop it on a theatrical scale, but the full picture would not become clear before WB makes a formal announcement.

Next: Why Warner Bros Cancelled DC's Batgirl Movie

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