Michael Keaton "didn't care one way or another" about Batgirl being canceled, but he sympathizes with the directors

The Flash
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Batgirl star Michael Keaton wasn't too fussed about the movie being scrapped by Warner Bros. before it had a chance to release, despite being finished

Keaton would've reprised his iconic Batman role in the movie, starring opposite Leslie Grace as Batgirl. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directed. 

"No, I didn't care one way or another. Big, fun, nice check," Keaton told GQ. But, he did sympathize with the directors. 

"I like those boys. They're nice guys," he added. "I pull for them. I want them to succeed, and I think they felt very badly, and that made me feel bad. Me?" he continued, "I'm good."

"The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership's strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max," Warner Bros. said of the cancelation in 2022. "Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance. We are incredibly grateful to the filmmakers of Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt and their respective casts and we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future."

Keaton also reprised his Bruce Wayne role in The Flash, which, despite being much-hyped in the lead up to its release, ultimately disappointed at the box office. Since then, the DCEU has been rebooted into the DCU, beginning with Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. The new universe is being overseen by DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. 

Next up for the DCU is Creature Commandos, an animated Max show which arrives in December 2024. It will be followed by Superman, the first DCU movie. Joker: Folie à Deux hits theaters this October 4, but the movie isn't part of the DCU. 

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows to keep up to date with everything the studio has in store. 

CATEGORIES
Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English. 

Read more
Batgirl movie
Batgirl crew member says the scrapped DC movie was "literally completely finished" with "VFX and everything"
The Flash
The Flash director explains why the DC movie flopped, suggesting that "a lot of people just don't care" about the character – despite one obvious counter-point
James Gunn
James Gunn's DC Studios puts several projects on the backburner, including Waller, The Authority, Booster Gold, and its Batman reboot
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
James Gunn says it's "not the plan" for Robert Pattinson to play Batman in the DCU, but he "wouldn't rule anything out"
The Penguin
Colin Farrell says he is "open to" doing The Penguin season 2, but has "no deep desire" to return
Batman in Creature Commandos (2025)
James Gunn's new DCU already features a thriving multiverse, and that's actually its strength
Latest in DC Movies
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn on set of Joker 2
Lady Gaga jokingly celebrates Joker 2 reception and Razzie nominations: "Joke's on them. I love winning things"
Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
James Gunn reveals Jason Momoa text him about Lobo the day he was announced as DC Studios co-head
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Superman
Gen V star reveals he unsuccessfully auditioned for Superman and Homelander
Daniel Radcliffe in The Lost City / Clayface in DC comics
James Gunn denies DC casting rumors that Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe will play Clayface: "We certainly haven’t talked to or considered him"
Latest in News
Walton Goggins in The Righteous Gemstones
The final season of Fallout star's HBO comedy has debuted to a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft guild cheats its way to winning Race for World First, gets caught, banned, then reverses its name and does it all over again
A AMD Ryzen 7 8700G being put into it's socket by a reviewer
AMD's new Ryzen 9 X3D processors launch today, here's the stock I've found so far
GTA 3 Mobile screenshot showing claude running away from police near a casino
The fan-made Dreamcast version of GTA 3 is looking way better in the latest look, introducing tech that "would’ve previously been a slideshow"
Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth studio asked Scarlett Johansson to join Instagram, but she refused: "The film will do fine"
Deltarune
Undertale creator Toby Fox's tomfoolery leaves Deltarune testers thinking an intentional nerf was actually a bug after they "independently" discovered it