“‘Batgirl was unreleasable’ my a**”: Will Smith’s ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Resurfaces Old Scars for DC Fans as Film Hits a Sore Spot Due to Its Action Scenes
- The success of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah has reminded fans of the canceled 'Batgirl' movie.
- Warner Bros. cited budget problems and poor test screenings behind canceling the nearly completed 'Batgirl'.
- Despite its cancellation, the success of 'Bad Boys 4' could hopefully help the studio regain trust in the director duo of 'Batgirl'.
The action-packed Bad Boys: Ride or Die has been ruling the box office. It has successfully put Will Smith back on track. But apart from that, for some DC fans, the film’s success is a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.
The director duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah behind Bad Boys: Ride or Die was also set to bring DC’s Batgirl on the big screen. However, that project met an unexpected end, but fans have not forgotten it yet.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die Reignites Batgirl Fans’ Frustrations
Bad Boys: Ride or Die showed the talent of the directors in the action genre, and it is hard not to wonder about the Batgirl movie that got scrapped.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die took Will Smith‘s Mike and Martin Lawrence‘s Marcus to new heights. From intense shootouts to jaw-dropping chases, the movie has everything. The directors blend dynamic camera work, drone shots, and fight choreography, and the kind of over-the-top action makes it feel like a superhero film.
The movie was released on June 7, 2024, and has grossed over $388.6 million worldwide (according to Box Office Mojo). But while Bad Boys: Ride or Die is getting the audience love, DC fans can’t help but feel a twinge of regret because of the canceled Batgirl movie.
"Batgirl was unreleasable" my ass https://t.co/4nJzuaMSc0
— Morrison (@DaMovieGuy09) July 24, 2024
What Batgirl could have been
— neran assistindo Survivor (@tiraoblockpfv) July 24, 2024
I love what Adil & Bilall did with these last two Bad Boys movies. Basically going “What if we kept the comedy, up the creativity of the action, and add several heavy doses of dealing with aging and mortality?” and it works
— Aaron (@jaradcliff) July 24, 2024
There’s no way Batgirl was “unreleasable” https://t.co/0W7Y4QbY2b
I don't get how anyone can watch this sequence in BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE and seriously believe that BATGIRL was "unwatchable".
— Echo of the 80s B-Movie Age (@EchoLeeNumber2) July 24, 2024
Fuckin' Zaslav.pic.twitter.com/hizznryJGn
I gotta agree with X here. I never believed BATGIRL was so bad that it was “unreleasable.” But after seeing the directors’ work in BAD BOYS, that story is especially hard to believe https://t.co/f0mODIQF1O
— People With Issues (@PeopleWIssues) July 24, 2024
Warner Bros. Discovery scrapped the nearly completed film that shocked the fans. The studio gave budget concerns and poor test screenings as the reasons behind their decision.
According to The Wrap, a Warner Bros. spokesperson addressed the reason for the scrapping of the movie saying,
The decision to not release Batgirl reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max. Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance.
The success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die only adds salt to the wound. It proves that Adil and Bilall have the skills to deliver an action-packed grand movie. This leaves DC fans wondering what might have been if Batgirl got the green light.
Is There Any Chance for Batgirl?
Despite its cancellation, fans are still hopeful for Batgirl. The film had a talented cast, including Brendan Fraser as Firefly and Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl.
This star power and the growing fan demand might revive the film. Warner Bros. could release Batgirl as a standalone film, not connected to the DCU universe that James Gunn is planning. This approach worked for Joker and The Batman already.
Another possibility is streaming. With successful shows like Peacemaker and the upcoming The Penguin series, Batgirl could find a natural fit on the platform. As Adil El Arbi told MovieWeb, “We never got to make our case, because we never finished the movie,” a streaming release could give the team a chance to complete their vision.
With the success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, DC fans can only hope that Adil and Bilall might bring Batgirl back from the dead once again one day.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is running in theaters.
