Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have been inundated with support from fellow filmmakers, including Kevin Feige, Edgar Wright, and James Gunn.
After Batgirl was unceremoniously canceled just a few days ago, El Arbi was contacted by Marvel CEO Kevin Feige who offered his support.
“My friends, I had to reach out and let you know we are all thinking about you both,” said Feige, whose email to El Arbi was revealed via Instagram. “Because of the wonderful news about the wedding (congrats!) and the disappointing news about Batgirl. Very proud of you guys for all the amazing work you do and particularly Ms. Marvel of course! Can’t wait to see what is next for you. Hope to see you soon.”
This message of support is a stark contrast to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s comments that suggest Batgirl wasn’t up to scratch.
“We’re not going to release any film before it’s ready,” he said. “We’re not going to release a film to make a quarter, we’re not going to release a film — the focus is going to be, how do we make each of these films, in general, as good as possible. But DC is something that we think we could make better, and we’re focused on it now.”
Warner Bros. Discovery has since announced a new 10-year plan for DC films going forward… but the upheaval hasn’t gone down well, even with those inside the company.
DC films president Walter Hamada was reportedly on the brink of quitting over the high-profile cancellation of Batgirl. Meanwhile, the company has even begun ditching HBO Max Originals – a move that’s left critics and pundits wondering exactly what Warner Bros. Discovery is doing.
Still, actors and filmmakers alike have rallied around the Batgirl directors.
“I feel blessed to have worked among absolute greats and forged relationships for a lifetime in the process!” said the film’s star, Leslie Grace. “To every Batgirl fan – THANK YOU for the love and belief, allowing me to take on the cape and become, as Babs said best, ‘my own damn hero!’”
Even Jams Gunn and Edgar Wright reportedly reached out to the directors to show their support.
“Thanks for all the messages of support all over the world!” said El Arbi via Instagram. “Shoutout to directors @edgarwright & @jamesgunn! Your kind words and experience mean a lot and help us through this difficult period. #batgirlforlife”
It clearly means a lot to see so many messages of support, especially coming from Gunn and Wright. After all, both directors have experienced the difficulties of cancellation when it comes to superhero projects.
Wright famously worked on Marvel’s Ant-Man until he left due to creative differences, while Gunn was once fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 before eventually behind rehired.
Still, it’s a troubling time for DC filmmakers, and you have to wonder which other DC projects could be next. For now, we’ll have to wait and see.
Want to find out more about the Warner Bros. Discovery shake-up? We break down exactly what happened to Batgirl and take a look at which other DC heroes are facing the axe.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.