As Shazam and Aquaman Sequels Eye Delay, Is Warner Bros. Taking Down DCEU?
Now that 'Batgirl' has been axed, other movies seem to be in danger as well.
It seems that Warner Bros. is on a mission to revisit its movie schedule – not only has the studio axed 'Batgirl' completely, but it considers delaying 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' and 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom', according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Shazam sequel is currently slated for a December 21, 2022 release, and 'Aquaman 2 ' is expected to follow on March 17, 2023. However, these plans might change if the new Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, decides to push the release dates.
Zaslav was the one to strike down 'Batgirl' despite millions of dollars already poured into its production. The filmmakers behind the movie, Adil El Arbil and Fallah Bilal, said they were "shocked and saddened" by Wednesday news about shelving the movie. Leslie Grace, the star of the movie, has also released a statement, thanking fans for the love and support.
The rumors about the possible delay of the Shazam and Aquaman sequels sparked concerns among DC fans that Zaslav might already be eyeing other parts of the DCEU to take down. With each passing day the fate of the DCEU raises more and more questions from fans, and even industry insiders began to speak actively about what exactly Warner Bros. is planning for its largest franchise to date.
"I'm hearing that internally, THE FLASH is currently undated. WBD is trying to figure out how to best go forward amid all the controversy. I'm also hearing that shelving this one isn't an option due to the high budget and importance to the DCEU moving forward," insider account @bigscreenleaks posted on Twitter several hours ago.
And while some people think it's a good way to go for a fresh start, others genuinely mourn the cancellation of 'Batgirl'. Many fans viewed the movie as a breath of fresh air for the DCEU, not least due to the representation of people of color and the announced cameo of Michael Keaton's Batman.
'Batgirl' was supposed to premiere later in the year on HBO Max, but after the Wednesday bombshell decision by Warner Bros. it won't be released on any platform.