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In August 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) made an unprecedented move by canceling theBatgirlmovie, which had already completed filming. The movie, which was slated for release as a Max Original, fell victim to the cost-cutting measures and became one of the most expensive canceled projects. The film even featured both young and veteran acting talents, including Leslie Grace, J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser, and Michael Keaton.
The plans for the film began back in 2017 when Joss Whedon was initially hired to write and direct the project. Later, Christina Hodson replaced Joss Whedon as the writer, and in 2021, theBad Boysdirectors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, were brought on board to direct the film.
Also Read:“We watched it and we were sad”: Batgirl Directors Were Heartbroken After Ezra Miller’s ‘The Flash’ Outing, Claimed They Could’ve Contributed To It
The Young Directors Had To Make A Tough Decision ForBatgirl
Adil El ArbiandBilall Fallahhad long been devoted fans of the DC character. The two filmmakers were already attached to another sequel project when they were hired forBatgirl. The directors were set to direct the fourth installment in the iconicBeverly Hills Copfranchise.Beverly Hills CopstarredEddie Murphyin the lead role as street-smart detective Axel Foley.
The first movie,Beverly Hills Cop, was released in 1984, gaining global recognition for Murphy. It became the highest-grossing U.S. film of that year, raking in $234 million at the domestic box office. The success of the film spawned two sequels in 1987 and 1994. The franchise grossed a worldwide total of $712 million at the box office. However, the financial and critical failure of the third film caused delays in the production of a planned fourth film.
Multiple release dates were announced and several directors were considered forBeverly Hills Cop IV. In 2016, the project landed in the hands of El Arbi and Fallah, who had been involved in its development despite numerous setbacks. In 2021, when the directors assumed the helm ofBatgirl, speculations arose about their commitment to the Eddie Murphy franchise. While the directors initially assured their involvement, they later made the painful decision to depart fromBeverly Hills Cop IVto fully focus onBatgirl.
Also Read:“They were not acting”: Batgirl Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah Molded Their Trauma Into the Most Personal Film of Their Careers
The Directors Were Devastated To Lose BothBeverly Hills Cop IVAndBatgirl
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah were deeply saddened and shocked by WBD’s announcement to shelve theirBatgirlproject. This came as a double blow to the Belgian directors, as they lost two precious projects amidst the Hollywood drama. During an interview with The Messenger, theBlackdirectors humorously remarked that they could make a movie out of their sad situation. Fallah toldThe Messenger:
“Yeah, you can almost make a movie about all of this. For real, we need to star as ourselves.”
El Arbi added that making Belgian movies was relaxed compared to the chaos in Hollywood. He toldThe Messenger:
“We talk to our agent and managers and say, “You know, Belgium movies, everything’s chill, it’s calm, so what’s the drama over there all the time?” So it’s really Hollywood — it’s Hollywood drama.”
Peter Safran, who took over DC Studios in November 2022, also commented on theBatgirlfilm. Safran stated that the studio was focused exclusively on theatrical releases andBatgirlwas unreleasable in theaters. While appreciating the actors involved in the film, Safran explained that the movie had been made exclusively for a streaming release.
Also Read:“Ours was more grounded”: Batgirl Directors Broke Silence on Box-Office Bomb ‘The Flash’ After WB Shelved Their Project Starring Brendan Fraser
A release date for Eddie Murphy’s fourth film in theBeverly Hills Copfranchise, titledBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley, remains to be announced.
Source:The Messenger
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
