Actor Brendan Fraser has criticized Warner Bros.' decision to shelve the completed 'Batgirl' film, describing it as an example of movies being treated as commodified content in Hollywood. In a recent interview, Fraser highlighted the lost opportunities for diverse representation and the financial motivations behind the cancellation. The film, in which he starred as the villain Firefly, was never released despite full production.
Background on 'Batgirl'
'Batgirl' was intended as the next installment in the DC Extended Universe, directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. The project starred Leslie Grace in the title role, with Fraser portraying the villainous Firefly, Jacob Scipio as Anthony Bressi, Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh, J.K. Simmons reprising Jim Gordon, and Michael Keaton returning as Batman. Production occurred in Scotland from November 2021 to March 2022, involving extensive sets in Glasgow that Fraser described as impressive, noting he would visit the art department to admire the work.
Cancellation Details
Warner Bros. announced in August 2022 that it would not release 'Batgirl,' opting to shelve the completed film as a cost-cutting measure during post-production. No footage has been publicly screened. This decision came amid broader corporate changes, and with Warner Bros. now up for sale and DC Studios led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, the prospects of any future release appear slim.
Fraser's Perspective
In an Associated Press interview on November 19, 2025, Fraser expressed disappointment over the shelving. 'The product— I’m sorry ‘content’—is being commodified to the extent that it’s more valuable to burn it down and get the insurance on it than to give it a shot in the marketplace,' he said. He emphasized the scale of the loss: 'A whole movie... there were four floors of production in Glasgow.'
Fraser also addressed the cultural impact, stating, 'The tragedy of that is that there’s a generation of little girls who don’t have a heroine to look up to and go, ‘She looks like me.’' Grace would have been the first Batgirl to headline her own film. He added excitement about Keaton's return: 'Michael Keaton came back as Batman. The Batman!'
Fraser, an Academy Award winner for 2022's 'The Whale,' currently appears in 'Rental Family' and will reprise Rick O’Connell in the upcoming fourth 'Mummy' film.