Batgirl's test screening score was reportedly the same as the first cut of Black Adam. Batgirl was a DC film expected to be released sometime in late 2022, starring Leslie Grace in the title role alongside major name likes J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, and Michael Keaton. Black Adam, an upcoming addition to the DC Universe, is a feature film starring Dwayne Johnson that is scheduled to premiere on October 21, 2022.
Batgirl began development in March of 2017, with Joss Whedon at the helm. However, Whedon left the project a year later, and Christina Hodson was brought on to write a new script for the film in April of 2018. In May of 2021, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were hired to direct the film, when it was also announced that Batgirl would premiere on HBO Max. Casting and filming quickly followed this announcement, and by March of 2022, filming was complete. On August 2, 2022, DC and HBO Max's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, announced that even though Batgirl was close to completion, they had no intention of releasing it. WB Discovery reportedly blamed poor test screenings and reception, and decided that rather than sinking money into reshoots, they would simply shelve the project completely.
Now, film reporters Erik Davis and Umberto Gonzalez have claimed that Batgirl's test screening score - the score so poor that WB Discovery decided to scrap the project - was the same as the director's cut of Black Adam. While the scores were the same, Batgirl was shelved, but Black Adam has gone on to have a full theatrical release. Read Davis and Gonzalez's comment below:
"Black Adam, the director's cut of Black Adam, tested the same as Batgirl."
Since the announcement of Batgirl's cancellation, it's been reported that the initial cut of the film that was shown had incomplete VFX work and a temp score, and still managed to test in the 60s. While this isn't a phenomenal score, it isn't uncommon for first screenings of films to score low - the 2017 horror phenomenon It tested in the 60s as well, and the film went on to become the 5th highest-grossing R-rated film in history. Batgirl also reportedly tested the same as Shazam! Fury of the Gods, another DC project which is still set to have a full theatrical release.
Although WB Discovery claimed they decided to scrap Batgirl because of its test scores, the film testing in the 60s is fairly normal. Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods both tested at the same score, and not only have they not been canceled, but they're getting a full theatrical release. Even if Batgirl did go on to be released, it would have only appeared on HBO Max anyway. The film's cancellation has led to big concerns over future DCEU movies receiving the same treatment, and with DC having just promised a 10-year plan styled after Marvel's MCU, it's unclear what other projects might get the Batgirl ax.
Source: Erik Davis and Umberto Gonzalez
