Hollywood talent reps are commenting on how Batgirl's cancellation hurt the DCEU. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has been behind several controversial decisions, many of which include their DC Comics slate of characters. Recently, Batgirl was shelved in favor of utilizing it for tax credits despite the fact that the film was said to be almost complete and even underwent test screenings. This decision came as a shock to many, including the stars and directors of the film. And while Batgirl was being produced for an HBO Max release, embracing the idea of smaller stories for streaming services, Zaslav wanted to steer the DCEU toward bigger films for a theatrical release.
Many DC projects are still being ushered to theaters, with Black Adam due out in October and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are still on the way. However, even those films have seen their fair share of unrest, with shifting release dates and PR controversies surrounding Flash star Ezra Miller and Aquaman's Amber Heard. Still, even with Warner Bros. Discovery promising to have a 10-year plan in place for their DC Comics characters, their recent rash moves have done little to inspire confidence.
As reported by THR, a leading Hollywood talent rep has stated that Warner Bros. Discovery's decisions have left things in a rough place following Batgirl's cancelation, which has tainted the DCEU for actors and even behind-the-scenes talent. With decisions to shelve movies, move release dates, and continually revamp films in post-production, working within the DCEU is becoming a lackluster prospect. And according to the rep, they are jobs that nobody wants. Check out the rep's comments below:
"Zaslav doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. That’s scary. And you’re always going to be compared to Marvel. It’s unfair. By the time they were being judged, it was working. It’s the exact opposite at Warner. It’s rough all around. Who the f*** would want that job?"
The DCEU doesn't appear to be in the best shape. While Black Adam could significantly change mindsets upon its release, DC's cinematic universe may yet have trouble finding its footing even with a 10-year plan in place, as even with a plan laid out, it will never get off the ground without the talent to act, write, and direct each project. While the DCEU still has heavy hitters like Dwayne Johnson playing Black Adam or Jason Momoa and James Wan tackling Aquaman, the company still seems committed to moving forward with The Flash despite the highly publicized legal battles surrounding Ezra Miller, which doesn't sit well with many moviegoers.
What Warner Bros. Discovery's 10-year plan for the DCEU will ultimately equate to remains to be seen. Their plan looks to follow much of what Kevin Feige accomplished with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has even dealt with its fair share of shake-ups, like recasting major roles or even the recent backlash from the VFX community. However, the MCU has never dealt with the state of disarray that the DCEU finds itself in. So while the DCEU may course correct over the next year, its future is still unknown, with Batgirl's cancellation marring the prospects for many in the industry.
Source: THR