‘Scoob!’ Sequel ‘Holiday Haunt’ Canceled With ‘Batgirl,’ Writer “Beyond Heartbroken”

Source: Scoob! (2020), HBO Max

Along with Batgirl, the sequel to 2020’s streaming release Scoob!: Holiday Haunt was canceled by the Discovery regime now in power at Warner Bros.

Source: Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 1 Episode 11 “The Secret Serum” (2010), Warner Bros. Animation

RELATED: ‘Batgirl’ Directors Issue Response Following The Film’s Sudden Cancellation: “We Are Saddened And Shocked By The News”

This move comes despite the fact the film is virtually complete, and writer/producer Tony Cervone is devastated. “The movie is practically finished and turned out beautifully. I am beyond heartbroken,” he said via DiscussingFilm.

Those in charge of Warner issued a statement obtained by Deadline, explaining their decision on Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt. “The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” it begins.

Leslie Grace in the now-canceled Batgirl movie

Source: Batgirl, Warner Brothers

“Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future,” the explanation added.

WBD’s answer doesn’t clarify much except they want to give themselves cover and leave a door open to work with Grace, Cervone, and Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah someday.

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directors of Batgirl

Source: Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Variety, YouTube

RELATED: James Gunn Believes Warner Bros. Giving The Green Light To An R-Rated Scooby-Doo Is Within The Realm Of Possibility: “I Think They’d Do It If We Asked”

In seeking a copacetic reason for the rampant axing of projects, Deadline’s coverage raises a salient point: WBD has inherited a lot of debt – about $3 billion worth – from the latest merger. Hence, the objective is to pare down that amount.

“In both cases, the filmmakers were told that it came down to a ‘purchase accounting’ maneuver available to Warner Bros Discovery because the company has changed hands, and also changed strategy from the previous regime,” the trade’s article says.

Source: The New Adventures of Batman (1977), CBS and Warner Bros. TV

“This opportunity expires in mid-August, said sources, and it allows WBD to not have to carry the losses on its books at a time when the studio is trying to pare down $3 billion in debt across its divisions,” it adds.

It also says WBD is working on different deals with Grace, El Arbi, and Fallah because – as their statement contends – “this was not a reflection on their talent as much as the radical strategy shift.”

Source: DC Comics x San Diego Comic-Con 2022. Art by Jim Lee.

Said shift is away from the strategy of the former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar that dragged the entirety of WB’s 2021 slate to HBO Max with producers kicking and screaming, and aimed to make $70 million tentpoles for the streaming service out of DC IPs.

Ousted, Kilar still stands by this strategy but “Wall Street no longer is impressed by subscriber numbers as much as profits, as seen by the precipitous decline of Netflix’s stock value.”

Source: Scoob! (2020), HBO Max

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New CEO David Zaslav clearly realizes this and so, “Rather than spend vast sums pumping up the budgets of each film to compete in theatrical marketplace, and then spend $80 million in global P&A, the studio felt that scrapping both movies was a better choice, when coupled with the purchase accounting maneuver,” Deadline claims.

They throw in a silver lining toward the end, conversely, but with the caveat that not all will benefit. “Sources don’t expect other films to get killed like this, because the accounting opportunity expires by the middle of this month,” their report said.

Source: Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Season 1 Episode 14 “Mystery Solvers Club State Finals” (2011), Warner Bros. Animation

However, “as all of Warner Bros Discovery braces for Thursday’s quarterly earnings report and the layoffs that are sure to come, no one with a project made specifically for HBO Max or execs there can feel confident at the moment.”

The house cleaning will continue.

NEXT: Incoming Warner Bros. Chairmen Will Have No Control Over DC Films As David Zaslav Continues Looking For Studio’s Own Kevin Feige

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