Joss Whedon won't direct 'Batgirl': "I didn't really have a story"

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·

February 22, 2018

Warner Bros. has lost another director, this time it's Batgirl's Joss Whedon.

“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,” Whedon told The Hollywood Reporter.

It sounds like Whedon decided to leave on his own, and DC Films President Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. President Toby Emmerich were understanding of that decision.

“I’m grateful to Geoff and Toby and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?," Whedon added.

Update: Sources tell Variety that the decision was mutual, and that Warner Bros. would like a female directors for movies about female characters like Batgirl.

Whedon directed some of Justice League after Zack Snyder stepped down. It's unknown if he will continue working with Warner Bros. on a different DC character. Let me know what you think of this news in the comments below.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter

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452 comments

Sense
February 22, 2018
Good, fuck off
Comic Fan.
February 22, 2018
Good. I like Joss Whedon but not right for what people seem to want from DC films right now. I think that DC films need lots of fresh actors and directors with no baggage that distracts from the focus of the film.
Wonder Bat
February 22, 2018
LOL at Snyder-bots showing their true color by insulting Whedon, Look at the below picture & cry even more:
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Only one of the Whedon films (The avengers) has sold more than anything Synder has ever made & will make together.
1. kan
  February 22, 2018
  Don't forget, Snyder was nominated for a Razzie award for Worst Director for BvS. That is like the cherry on the cake.
2. Rust
  February 22, 2018
  So accurate.
  https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
  1. J.K.2019
    February 22, 2018
    How does The room gets 35 percent?....WTF.
    1. Seb
      February 22, 2018
      It's sitting at 26% now.
      But just check out the reviews... There are critics giving this movie 4/4 scores. They're joking. Every single "fresh" review is basically a "so bad it's good" idiotic mockery of the film. They're not exactly being serious about the quality of the film. They just enjoyed how legendary (in a bad way) this film was. Rust is being very dishonest, as per freaking usual.
  2. NinjaGamer13
    February 22, 2018
    See? It's a joke
    1. Rust
      February 22, 2018
      Everybody laugh.
      https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
  3. Hunter Zolomon
    February 23, 2018
    Yeah because i'm sure Snyder fanboys haven't made loads of accounts to try and raise the score.
    1. Rust
      February 23, 2018
      I've heard the reverse, but I don't choose to believe that only 'the enemy' has behaved this way.
      And, really, that just proves my point that RT is an unreliable way to determine quality. You're arguing for me by saying something like that, not against me.
      There is some likelihood that fanboys from both sides have participated in this stupid behavior, but all we have to go on is a number. Since RT is being used as some sort of Gospel by haters, I was simply making a reflective example of inconsistency.
      If you really believe that only people who like Snyder would do this and haters wouldn't, then I would suggest bias on your part.
      Either way, the point stands that you can't blanketly judge quality from something like this.
      1. Axxell
        February 24, 2018
        I would submit that people who hate DC and/or Snyder have less incentive to do this, because the only objective of trying to change the audience score is to change the narrative about the film, in order to make a point about it's quality... yet most of these films are already starting with a negative outlook because of the professional reviews. It's the Snyder/DC fanboys who have an imperative to raise the audience score to make the film look good and hoping to discredit the critics.
3. marsz
  February 22, 2018
  These mean nothing as Whedon's movies were all crap. Have fun relying on critics to make up your own mind. Loser
  1. Hunter Zolomon
    February 23, 2018
    I'm sure if Snyder made all those films exactly as they are the Whedon made them you would think they were masterpieces.
4. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  The only thing Hack Snyder has done is reaffirm that if you are a man and white, you get chance after chance when you repeatedly fail.
  1. Rorschach
    February 22, 2018
    Thanks for the hot take.
5. NinjaGamer13
  February 22, 2018
  Golly gee! You really got us there, ya rascal!
6. Tobescolombo
  February 22, 2018
  I'm going to ask you an honest question, why do you care? You seem to have this need to provoke anyone who likes Zack Snyder movies by calling them derogatory names, why do you spend your precious time seeking arguments on a chat board? Before you say you aren't, you don't need to be the smartest to know that posting snide comments like Snyder-bots will lead to an argument.
  It's insulting, it's childish, and it's unnecessary. This back and forth will keep happening and neither of us will agree with each other so stop thinking that you'll somehow convince people to agree with you by acting like, for lack of a better word, a douche.
  Have a good day.
7. jrvc
  February 22, 2018
  "Only one of the Whedon films (The avengers) has sold more than anything Synder has ever made & will make together."
  That's like, totally not true. Try at least to mention both Avengers movies if you don't want to look like an ignorant liar
8. Nahuel Benvenuto
  February 22, 2018
  The best thing whedon did was Resurrection, and it wasnt even his merit because the director changed the tone of his script, the cabin in teh woods and age of ultron are STUPID movies
  1. Spectre
    February 22, 2018
    Hey not blind and biased idiot, nothing is more stupid than BvS and Martha and Loise scene
9. Rorschach
  February 22, 2018
  Thanks for posting something I’d seen before and acting like it’s revelatory.
  First of all, just to make clear: We don’t sit around crying about what critics have to say. Secondly, I look at those reviews and I am thankful — thankful that I can recognize what the mainstream doesn’t. I can’t imagine being as blinded to art as... some people.
  Have a good night, bud.
10. rogbngp
  February 22, 2018
  Not surprisingly, you omitted Watchmen, 300, and Dawn of the Dead.
  And Snyder did not direct 300: Rise of an Empire.
Xetrus
February 22, 2018
Snyder should direct this one.
1. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  Lol.Snyder is dead, Bury it.
2. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  KYS.
3. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  How many failed movies you people need before you wake the f uck up and realize that there are also other directors in the world?....Not to mention that BvS was a Batman movie.
  1. myzterius
    February 22, 2018
    Lol right, it was definitely a batman movie, really really out of character but yea, it was a terrible batman movie.
  2. Unn
    February 23, 2018
    Bvs was a superman movie, even if we had more batman scenes, it was about what batman think of superman. superman inspire batman after his death.
4. Hunter Zolomon
  February 23, 2018
  Well when a bad director makes bad films what do you expect?
5. Ábhi
  February 23, 2018
  Make a Batman movie after portraying him as a mass killing machine? I would rather prefer the death of CBM than see Snyder direct any other DC film, let alone Batman.
  1. Unn
    February 23, 2018
    because you dont know the batman character as much as you think you do.
    1. Ábhi
      February 23, 2018
      Says the guy who probably never even touched a Batman comic in his life.
6. Axxell
  February 24, 2018
  Snyder probably would've made a decent Batman movie provided it's not within a cinematic universe and he doesn't write the story.
Rust
February 22, 2018
I have the cure for your problem: Just don't watch it.
The rest of us will enjoy it while you miss out. :P
1. Thomas Guy
  February 22, 2018
  But Bats is eating up the time and attention that could be used to highlight other characters. Every animated DC film in the past few years have had Batman in it. A lot of the live action movies have Batman in it. Why can't we get Fire and Ice, or Booster Gold, or Rick Hunter, or Firestorm, or literally anyone other than a Bat family movie.
  1. NinjaGamer13
    February 22, 2018
    I’ll stick with Batman
  2. Talia
    February 22, 2018
    CW doesn't have a Batman, nor a member of the Bat family.
thefallen83
February 22, 2018
He recognizes he failed. Does that include JL?
1. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  Of-course. Hard to polish a turd.
2. NinjaGamer13
  February 22, 2018
  That's literally how I interpreted it. Surely he couldn't have ACCIDENTALLY chosen such poor words if he wasn't alluding to that, right?
Dom510
February 22, 2018
thank god
Diego!
February 22, 2018
Yes Joss, there is a sexier word for failed: Fired!
Batgirl, along with Robin and Batwoman should appear in the Nightwing movie. After that, they can release a Batgirl movie and even a Batwoman movie too. LGBT community supports Batwoman a lot. I'm in for her movie too!
1. thefallen83
  February 22, 2018
  My man!
2. Diego!
  February 22, 2018
  I want a Green Lantern movie with all the Green Lanterns from Earth. That is more people than in Justice League!
  1. Diego!
    February 22, 2018
    Here. I want all these guys in Green Lanterns Corps:
    Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Simon Baz, Kyle Rayner, and Jessica Cruz :D
3. NinjaGamer13
  February 22, 2018
  So sexy
4. Nightwing Fan J
  February 22, 2018
  I'd rather get a Midnighter and Apollo series on the DC streaming service.
  1. Nightwing Fan J
    February 22, 2018
    That's true
5. Nightwing Fan J
  February 22, 2018
  I would love a Batwoman movie as long as they don't use Batman villains
  1. Diego!
    February 22, 2018
    I'd love that too. Batwoman is such an underrated character... I wish one day we'll see her movie
J.K.2019
February 22, 2018
Looks to me that every good filmmaker wants to work with Marvel.As for dc first, Ben Affleck and now Joss Whedon.Both were screwed by Snyder-verse.
1. marsz
  February 22, 2018
  fake news
  1. Rorschach
    February 22, 2018
    Some might say VERY fake news.
Tommy Pearson
February 22, 2018
I’m not that fussed after his work on Justice League. Yes it was a hard task condensing the movie into 2 hours, but that dialogue in scenes with real emotional weight that he totally unnecessarily butchered is totally unforgivable.
Jcool
February 22, 2018
fwiw
https://twitter.com/TheInSn...
1. Jcool
  February 22, 2018
  fwiw no one cares what you think or want.
J.K.2019
February 22, 2018
Hans Zimmer also left.
1. Unn
  February 23, 2018
  nop he was fired by joss
  1. J.K.2019
    February 23, 2018
    He wasn't.That was Junkie XL.
Joker
February 22, 2018
I imagine him just *looks at everyone blaming him for anything wrong with JL* "...yeah I'm out guys. Good luck."
JonesKittyCat
February 22, 2018
After seeing his Wonder Woman script, I can't say this is heartbreaking news.
1. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  He has left DC, Not just Batgirl.
marsz
February 22, 2018
Thank the lord!!! the worst thing to happen to DC has finally been fired.
1. myzterius
  February 22, 2018
  They been fired snyder, keep up with the news.
thefallen83
February 22, 2018
*insert Whedon gif air-jerking off invisible penises*
1. thefallen83
  February 22, 2018
  Says the insignificant anonymous coward who can't resist replying to my posts LOL. I won't go away, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
2. BatmanNewsChris
  February 22, 2018
  https://s.yimg.com/cd/dimin...
  1. thefallen83
    February 23, 2018
    My man!
3. Rorschach
  February 22, 2018
  I’m not one to get involved in a feud like this, but a guy who goes around posting anonymous threats about penises ending up in other guys’ asses... Well, that doesn’t exactly sound straight.
ItzSilentStorm
February 22, 2018
Cant say I am that disappointed. I much prefer the Russo's work in the MCU to Joss personally. I honestly would not mind a female director for this project(assuming it is still happening). Also would not mind seeing someone like Cassandra Cain instead of Barbara
J.K.2019
February 22, 2018
Sigh, He didn't have to leave.He could have just directed another movie.But, looks like that jl failure got him.
Tommy Pearson
February 22, 2018
It’s actually a wise PR move if these rumours of a female director replacing Whedon are true.
J.K.2019
February 22, 2018
Black Widow?....
Seb
February 22, 2018
Very disappointing.
AnonymousHero
February 22, 2018
"it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story..."
Really Whedon, REALLY?
Get the hell out of here.
1. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  It looks to me that's what he plans to do.He is probably after that marvel money again after Black panther setting box office on fire.
  B/W, It's the studio that provides direction.
2. Schuyler Finley
  February 22, 2018
  At least Affleck had to deal with the pressure of making a film as good as TDK.
  1. Ábhi
    February 23, 2018
    Nah, in fact, he had luxury to make a film better than Batman v Superman.
Izzy Sandoval
February 22, 2018
I'm guessing he may have also gotten pressure from the execs after that whole thing came out from his ex-wife about him being a piece a trash and a fake feminist. Better they find someone who will actually make the character strong, and not end up with another Killing Joke animated movie situation.
1. J.K.2019
  February 22, 2018
  Did they do anything to Ben Affleck, Johnny Depp or Jason Momoa?.....Also, If that's the case then he would receive offer to direct another movie.But, He isn't only leaving Batgirl.He is leaving DC behind for good.
  And, What do you expect from bitter ex-wife who lost her bank account?.....If she isn't lying then bring out proof.This is 21st century.
2. Kouglof
  February 22, 2018
  I can easily appreciate something related to DC, but I really disliked the Killing Joke animated movie
  1. Izzy Sandoval
    February 22, 2018
    Have you watched Gotham by Gaslight yet? I've been hesitant to buy it, since I don't know if its worth it. Same will go with Batman Ninja later this year.
    1. Kouglof
      February 22, 2018
      After The Killing Joke and Batman and Harley Quinn I was losing hope, but I have watched Gotham by Gaslight and I really appreciated it. It's an original story which has all the cool references you know about the Batman universe but it's in another epoch. For me, it's worth it (I don't want to spoil anything).
      1. Izzy Sandoval
        February 23, 2018
        I own the Gotham by Gaslight comic so I know the story and it’s so different. I was just hoping it translated well to a movie. Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have to pick up the Blu-ray.
Tommy Pearson
February 22, 2018
https://media.tenor.com/ima...
dr. quinzel
February 22, 2018
I’d remind DC fans that in 2015 the internet was reporting as fact that Marvel was broken and there would never be another good Marvel movie, and Marvel turned the generations, brought in new voices from outside the genre like Taika Waititi and Ryan Coogler, and Marvel Phase 3 is now setting new standards for creativity and profitability.
DC might just get it; John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are exactly what they should be doing right now. Here’s hoping DC’s next chapter turns out as happily as Marvel’s.
lowdevil
February 22, 2018
Good riddance
Ravager
February 22, 2018
I think it was just a bad idea to begin with
Iss
February 22, 2018
That's a good news
jrvc
February 22, 2018
Bah, these kind of news hardly surprise me anymore -_-
I'm Batman Man 39
February 22, 2018
http://1.media.dorkly.cvcdn...

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