Neither Michael Keaton nor Brendan Fraser is happy with Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to dump and write off their DC movie Batgirl.
Keaton made his thoughts known to Deadline journalists after the Emmy Awards and defended the axed film. “I think it was a business decision,” he replied when asked. “It was a film, it was a good one.”
Good or not, Batgirl was meant to feature one of Keaton’s appearances in the DCEU as a legacy Batman in a return after 30 years. With that opportunity now gone, and his cameo in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom scrapped too, the actor is now in limbo as the Caped Crusader.
Asked when we can expect to see him in the cowl again, he made a little joke before offering that he has no idea. “Oh, a little later tonight. No, I’m kidding. I don’t know. I really have no idea,” Keaton said.
This is a strange answer when he is expected to finally show up in The Flash next year unless there is something to the rumor the plagued picture directed by Andy Muschietti, and starring the erratic Ezra Miller as multiple versions of Barry Allen, is undergoing reshoots and rewrites that drastically change the plot.
WBD may be ready to move on from Keaton and any reprising of an old Dark Knight that isn’t from the Snyderverse. However, that story needs time to develop.
Digressing, we know where Batgirl stands as well as where Brendan Fraser, who played the villain Firefly, does. Disappointed, he claimed in a sitdown with Variety that fans wanted the film and had high praise for Leslie Grace; the canceled film’s lead actress.
“The fans really wanted to see this film made,” Fraser said. “Leslie Grace is a dynamo. The movie was shot and conceived for a smaller screen. In this age that we’ve come out of now between streaming service versus theatrical release, it wound up being the canary in the coal mine.”
Brendan Fraser says Warner Bros. decision to axe #Batgirl was "disappointing": "The fans really wanted to see this film made. Leslie Grace is a dynamo." https://t.co/hZNVdqyonR #TIFF pic.twitter.com/d2LTGhdDiA
— Variety (@Variety) September 12, 2022
He would make light of the situation, though, in an interview for his upcoming film The Whale. Responding to what else he has coming out, Fraser says “Batgirl” before going “oh” and giving a big laugh.
Brendan Fraser jokes about Batgirl's cancellation in interview for The Whale pic.twitter.com/GZmMbiBtQu
— DC Daily (Neb) (@DCU_CORE) September 12, 2022
Batgirl was canceled for a tax break as Warner’s new heads try to cut costs and save money. It was also said to be a quality issue although directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who tried to save the film’s footage, deny that.
Another rumor contends Keaton’s Batman dies at the end but we’ll never find out because, as part of the deal to shelve it, Batgirl can never be monetized or exhibited.