Things We Saw Today: Fans Call for Warner Bros. Discovery to #ReleaseBatgirl

After HBO Max and Warner Bros. Discovery’s sudden and startling cancellation of the Batgirl film that was already shot and in post-production, a growing number of fans are calling for the movie to be released on HBO Max or in theaters. I’ve even seen jokes (but also maybe not jokes) from people online asking for the movie to be mailed to them and they’ll get it into the people’s hands. Similar to online campaigns like #ReleaseTheSynderCut or a number of #SaveOneDayAtATime, fans are calling for Warner Bros. Discovery to #SaveBatgirl.

In today’s Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 investor call, top board members (including David Zaslav, JB Perrette, Gunnar Wiedenfels, and Andrew Slabin) affirmed that they won’t release projects “[they] don’t believe in.” That’s an interesting statement considering how the faith in new direction of HBO Max is nosediving and their sexist stance on fandoms. Even before we got the excuse as to why this was happening, people were calling for a reversal of this decision. This includes comic creators like Gail Simone, who has written several Batgirl series.

This is unlikely to get any traction, but goes to show Zaslav and his team didn’t just rob DC fans of a highly anticipated film (anticipation that is, at this point, a rare win for them), but of a chance for many people to see themselves in a high-profile place within DC. While DC did release two live-action Wonder Woman films, this would have been the first female-led film since. Not only was this going to feature fan-favorites Brendan Fraser and Michael Keaton (as Batman again!), but Leslie Grace’s portrayal of Batgirl was going to be the most high-profile Afro-Latina in a DC film, along with trans representation with Ivory Aquino playing her best friend Alysia Yeo.

(via Twitter, image: HBO Max/DC Comics)

Here are some other bits of news we saw today:

• Georgia allows embryos to count as citizens and dependents for tax purposes, prompting more concern from doctors and tax experts. (via Axios)
• One of the biggest Trekkies on YouTube, Jessie Gender, chats with Jack Quaid (The Boys, Star Trek Lower Decks.) (via YouTube)
• TikTok rival Triller allegedly scammed 300 Black creators out of millions promised in payments and stock. (via The Washington Post)

What did you see online today, Mary Suevians?

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—