The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Joss Whedon will no longer be involved with DC’s Batgirl movie.
“Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story,” Whedon told the source in a statement. “I’m grateful to Geoff [Johns] and [Warner Bros. Picture Group president] Toby [Emmerich] and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I…uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed?'”
It was almost a year ago when Whedon was announced as the director of a Batgirl film. Originally set to start shooting in 2018, Geoff Johns told IGN during SDCC 2017: “We are doing ‘Batgirl’ with Joss Whedon, it’s gonna be super exciting and he’s gonna start that next year. That’s just the start. We want to explore the Batman universe in a big new way.”
In July 2017, Whedon said that he was currently wrapping up production on Justice League, filling in for Zack Snyder since his departure earlier that year, would begin production on Batgirl immediately afterward. One has to wonder whether the poor reception for that film has more to do with Whedon’s departure than any other factor.
We feel confident the Batman universe will find a way of expanding in every possible medium throughout 2018.
