The Batgirl movie is in need of a new director. Joss Whedon stepped down from the upcoming DC Comics film he was slated to write and direct due to problems he had finding the story.
“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 Hollywood Reporter in a statement. Referring to DC president Geoff Johns and Warners Picture Group president Toby Emmerich, Whedon added, “I’m grateful to Geoff and Toby and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?”
THR adds that Whedon couldn’t “crack the code” of what a Batgirl movie should be, and added that he could have faced public scrutiny for tackling a female-led film in the same way that anyone who wasn’t a woman or African-American would receive for directing Wonder Woman or Black Panther.
Whedon was announced as the director of the Batgirl movie in March 2017 as DC/Warner Bros. was set to have a banner year for its fledgling film division. In the summer of 2017, the Wonder Woman movie dropped and became a critical and financial hit for the company. The Justice League film, which was equal parts a culmination of the DC Comics universe starting with Man of Steel in 2013 and a kickstart for its other properties, underperformed.
Interesting enough, Whedon stepped in to direct Justice League when Zack Snyder was sidelined due to a family tragedy. Whedon’s exit after his time helming the film has drawn skepticism from other reporters. James Viscardi of Comicbook and Umberto Gonzalez of The Wrap have voiced their opinions on Whedon’s exit from Batgirl on Twitter.
spin spin spin
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) February 22, 2018
Whatever the reason for Batgirl losing its director, DC/Warner Bros. will be searching for a new director as it continues to try and recapture the magic of Wonder Woman and create a movie universe that is both critically and financially viable.
What do you think of Whedon’s exit from Batgirl? Who would you want to direct the film? Let us know in the comments section below.
