Was Ben Affleck reason for 'Batgirl' getting canned? Speculation is actor's back as caped crusader
Warner Bros. Pictures saw quite the success with 'The Batman' earlier this year, which meant the standards were higher, especially after Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson put in the hard yards to add a new take and see the character's brand reborn. It was a successful move as the movie grossed over $770 million, which makes it all the more of a discussion point when talking about'Batgirl'being canceled. The main reason behind the movie being put on the shelf permanently was the result seen in the test screenings.
Per the New York Post, the test screenings ahead of a planned late 2022 release were a damp squib with the movie receiving poor responses from the audiences. It added that the reaction was bad enough to make WB cut their losses and scrub the flick altogether. There's also that point of how the movie's timeline might have played a part in the role of the movie being canceled. At the outset, there is no doubt that 'Batgirl' was a key part of the DCEU ahead of Ezra Miller's 'The Flash' and Jason Momoa's 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom'.
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The speedster's movie features two versions of Batman — Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck, and the latter's presence might have been one that would have led to continuity errors. At one point, it brings about the question of which Batman the franchise will look to retain. Batgirl’s complete quashing as well as the confirmation that Affleck will be reprising the role of Batman in the 'Aquaman' sequel makes it difficult to see whether Keaton's Batman remains part of DCEU's plan for the future. Likewise, it's the same for Affleck, who will be seen in two more outings.
Perhaps, there is that outside possibility of WB and DCEU giving limited exposure to Affleck's version primarily due to the fact that they are leaving the Snyderverse altogether making only a fragment of his presence available in future movies. With the concept of DC Multiverse being introduced in Miller's standalone film, it makes sense to introduce or re-introduce Keaton's Bat while doing away with Affleck's version.
It's a neat send-off strategy and in a way might have added to the list of reasons behind 'Batgirl's cancellation. There's always that chance of Batgirl being introduced in some capacity. While there might not be a standalone project necessarily, WB might commission a limited series. But for now, the timeline is something the franchise will look to sort out.
