Joss Whedon Drops Out of BATGIRL Movie

Last year, Avengers writer-director Joss Whedon was hired to take on a Batgirl movie for DC Films. He began work on the story and exploring Barbara Gordon’s “damage,” before shifting his focus to finishing Justice League. Despite rumors of his exit, the last update said Whedon was still making Batgirl. But now, the film is gonna need a new director.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Whedon is no longer directing Batgirl. The filmmaker provided the following statement to THR. “Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story. I’m grateful to Geoff [Johns] and Toby [Emmerich] and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?”

Sources tell THR that Whedon had difficulty cracking the code for what a Batgirl movie should be, while there were also concerns about the idea of a male director tackling a movie starring a big female character. The Tracking Board says that WB and DC now plan to hire a female director for this project.

Whedon has recently come under fire for issues in his personal life, as well as some of his…questionable additions to Justice League. (That Flash falling on Wonder Woman gag? Really?) Thus, fans have not been as supportive of his making Batgirl as other directors. Now, let’s see who the studio hires next.

Stay tuned for more as we have it.