Transgender ‘Batgirl’ Star Begs For Shelved Movie to Still Be Released After it Was Deemed ‘Irredeemable’ and ‘Woke’
Transgender ‘Batgirl’ Star Begs For Shelved Movie to Still Be Released After it Was Deemed ‘Irredeemable’ and ‘Woke’
Transgender Batgirl star Ivory Aquino is pleading with Warner Bros. Discovery to release the the film, despite it being deemed “irredeemable.”
The studio had spent $90 million on the film, which was nearly completed, when they decided to never release it.
“The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max. 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,” a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Picture told The Wrap earlier this month.
The movie was originally being made for HBO Max, but was under consideration for a theatrical release.
However, according to a report from the New York Post, test screenings for audiences ahead of the planned release later this year were so negatively received that the studio decided to scrap the entire project.
“They think an unspeakable ‘Batgirl’ is going to be irredeemable,” a source had told the Post.
Bounding Into Comics wrote of the film, “in an almost surefire sign that its story and writing would come second to promoting its creators’ ideology,” the film “marketed itself heavily on the fact that its actress was a race-swap and that it featured a diverse cast.”
On Wednesday, the Hollywood Reporter reported that not only is the film cancelled — all of the footage might also be destroyed for tax purposes.
“Several sources suggested that Warners might make the drastic move of actually destroying its Batgirl footage as a way to demonstrate to the IRS that there will never be any revenue from the project, and thus it should be entitled to the full write-down immediately,” the report said. They noted that other sources have disputed that, saying that it could end up in a vault and potentially be released later.
Aquino had played Alysia Yeoh, Batgirl’s transgender best friend in the film.
The day after that news broke, Aquino tweeted about the article and begged David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, for it to be released.
movie, I ask that this measure be reconsidered.
As much as I’ve tried my best to be strong these past few weeks, I’d find myself crying, for lack of a better term, from grief, and tonight was one of those nights. As much as Batgirl has been labeled a woke film, it simply came
— Ivory Aquino (@MsIvoryAquino) August 25, 2022
Zalov, as some may remember, was the one who pulled the plug on CNN+ as soon as he took over.
In the lengthy tweet thread, the actor claimed that the film is not “woke,” but “reflects the world we live in.”
“I just read an article @THR about supposed ‘funeral screenings’ of #Batgirl and the possibility afterwards that the film footage would be destroyed.. if this is the case, as one of many who poured our hearts into the making of this movie, I ask that this measure be reconsidered,” Aquino wrote. “As much as I’ve tried my best to be strong these past few weeks, I’d find myself crying, for lack of a better term, from grief, and tonight was one of those nights.”
Aquino continued, “as much as Batgirl has been labeled a woke film, it simply came together that way because of writing that reflects the world we live in. For me, more than anything, it is a father-daughter story which hits close to home as my Dad passed a year ago, shortly before I booked this project, and I was hoping it would resonate with other children around the world, grown and not-so-grown, who hold their fathers in the highest esteem and who could see Batgirl as a story of that special bond.”
around the world, grown and not-so-grown, who hold their fathers in the highest esteem and who could see Batgirl as a story of that special bond.
I’ve found myself not being able to talk about this ordeal with anyone. I realized that no one, apart from those involved with the
— Ivory Aquino (@MsIvoryAquino) August 25, 2022
“If a month ago, there wasn’t a marketing budget for Batgirl, I’d venture to say that that has been taken care of by the turn of events these past few weeks,” Aquino added. “We’ve been fortunate to have such amazing supporters since the beginning, from Glasgow where we filmed and from all over the world. Now, more people know about our labor of love and are eager to see the movie. I do hope you get to read this letter. Consider releasing Batgirl. She’s always been an underdog and has nowhere to go but up.”
from Glasgow where we filmed and from all over the world. Now, more people know about our labor of love and are eager to see the movie. I do hope you get to read this letter. Consider releasing Batgirl. She’s always been an underdog and has nowhere to go but up.
— Ivory Aquino (@MsIvoryAquino) August 25, 2022
Warner Bros has not responded to the thread.
The post Transgender ‘Batgirl’ Star Begs For Shelved Movie to Still Be Released After it Was Deemed ‘Irredeemable’ and ‘Woke’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Author: Cassandra Fairbanks