“Batgirl” cancellation is “Corporate Sociopathy,” says Joe Russo

• The film was cancelled by new CEO David Zaslav.
• Following the merger of Warner Brothers and Discovery.
• The studio has also released the highly anticipated film Black Adam.

It may have been a few months since the August announcement that Warner Bros. Batgirl, the superhero film starring Leslie Grace, would be cancelled as part of Discovery’s merger plans.

In the days and weeks after the announcement, the studio experienced an onslaught of criticism over the reasoning behind the move.

Despite the dust settling on the situation, Joe Russo, a director for Marvel, has spoken on the cancellation, joining Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser, who have also expressed their displeasure.

Batgirl was cancelled by new CEO David Zaslav following the merger of Warner Brothers and Discovery, and Russo did not hold back in expressing his displeasure with the decision.

In an interview with Variety, the director referred to the decision to cancel the picture as “murder” and expressed concern for future filmmakers who may face similar decisions.

Russo remarked, “It’s rare that I can think of something that high profile, that expensive, that was murdered in such a way.”

“It’s sad, but we’re at a time in the business where corporate sociopathy is going to rear its head because people are scared.”

Batgirl was dropped in an unexpected move by Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming cost-cutting measures; the industry criticized the studio’s decision to cancel a $90 million film.

Many would argue that the criticism was justified, given that the film was a big DC Universe production that would have introduced a new character to the roster of on-screen superheroes. The picture would also have featured the return Michael Keaton’s Batman.

With the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran to manage DC Films, Zaslav has, after weeks of searching, found the combination that will steer the studio in the creative direction he desires as part of his effort to reinvent the DC Universe.

In the weeks following the cancellation of Batgirl, many projects under the studio’s control were axed; yet, during an investor’s call, Zaslav expressed no remorse for the decisions made, stating, “We did not eliminate any profitable show.”

Westworld is the most recent project to be eliminated under this new reimagining process at Warner Bros. Discovery.

Despite four seasons, the last of which concluded in August, seven Emmy wins, and a plethora of nominations, the series was cancelled after four seasons despite aspirations for a fifth season.

The studio has also released the highly anticipated film Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson, which has performed well at the box office.

You may view the film’s trailer below.

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