Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

'Batgirl' Star Begs Warner Bros. Not To Destroy Footage After Reports Of Secret 'Funeral Screenings'

'Batgirl' Star Begs Warner Bros. Not To Destroy Footage After Reports Of Secret 'Funeral Screenings'
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for them
Make us preferred on Google

One of the stars of Warner Bros. scrapped Batgirl film is begging the studio's parent company not to destroy footage from the film amid rumors of secret "funeral screenings" being held on the Warner Bros. lot in advance of the film's unknown destination.

Ivory Aquino—a trans actor who played the trans character Alysia Yeoh in the film in a first for a DC Comics feature—took to Twitter to plead with controversial Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to choose to archive the film.


Destroying the film's footage is rumored to be a potential outcome for the film rather than archiving it

Aquino posted a lengthy thread about what the film means to her and others who worked on it, seen below.













Batgirl has been at the center of controversy for weeks since Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would be scrapped earlier this month and the company would take a tax write-off on the $90 million production.

The film was still in post-production at the time.

Batgirl is just one of many projects to be canceled in a wave of shake-ups and layoffs since Zaslav's takeover that many believe is an effort to pull back from diverse content and court a more conservative viewership base.

Batgirl certainly fits the bill for the type of projects Zaslav would want to kill if that is indeed the case. The film's diversity and representation have been alternately praised and criticized as "going woke," a charge Aquino dismissed in her thread.

Aquino countered that the film is simply a deeply personal story about a father-daughter relationship that reflects the diverse world in which we live, and a story to which she has a personal connection.

"More than anything, it is a father-daughter story which hits close to home as my Dad passed a year ago, shortly before I booked this project."
"I was hoping it would resonate with other children around the world, grown and not-so-grown, who hold their fathers in the highest esteem and who could see Batgirl as a story of that special bond."
She went on to implore Zaslav to release the film, citing the demand for it that has erupted since news of its cancellation broke.Aquino wrote:
"If a month ago, there wasn’t a marketing budget for Batgirl, I’d venture to say that that has been taken care of by the turn of events these past few weeks."
"Now, more people know about our labor of love and are eager to see the movie."

On Twitter, many applauded Aquino for speaking out and lamented the situation Batgirl is facing at the hands of David Zaslav.








Other than the rumored "funeral screenings" on the Warner Bros. lot, Batgirl was given one test screening during post-production—the only time the public has been given a glimpse of the film.

Hopefully it's not the last time.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Screenshot of Abdul El-Sayed; Donald Trump
CNN; Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Adbul El-Sayed Has Surprise Offer For Trump While Pitching Medicare-For-All Program During Live Interview

Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed said he would consider putting President Donald Trump's name on a healthcare program if Trump backs a Medicare-for-all plan.

El-Sayed, a former public health official, was speaking to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins about his legislative priorities once he takes office in January now that he's won Michigan's Senate seat. It was during this interview that he made a very specific offer to the president.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hillary Clinton; Lauren Boebert
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Vox Media; Kevin Dietsch

Hillary Clinton Has Blunt Farewell Message To Lauren Boebert After Her Projected Election Loss—And We're Cackling

After Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert—one of the most prominent MAGA politicians in Congress—lost her reelection bid to Colorado Democrat Eileen Laubacher, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a hilariously blunt response.

The race in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District has yet to be officially called by election officials or major news organizations. CNN’s Decision Desk, however, projected this week that Laubacher, a retired Navy rear admiral who made economic affordability a central theme of her campaign, would defeat Boebert.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in ‘Heated Rivalry.’
Photo courtesy of Crave/HBO Max

Suburban Mom Roasted After Crying Foul Over 'Heated Rivalry' Popcorn Buckets At Local Movie Theater

Somewhere along the way, Hollywood decided popcorn needed its own cinematic universe. Buckets have become bigger, stranger, and increasingly questionable, leaving moviegoers wondering whether they're buying a snack or adopting a plastic creature.

Yet among these unhinged concession-stand collectibles, a Heated Rivalry tin featuring two shirtless hockey players somehow became the breaking point for one suburban pearl-clutcher.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gabourey Sidibe and Brandon Frankel
Jamie McCarthy/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty Images

Gabourey Sidibe's Husband Praised After Calling Out Fans Who Refuse To Pronounce Her Name Correctly

A person's name is important, obviously, as it's the first thing other people generally learn about them.

Most people want others to remember their name and pronounce it correctly, which is understandable.

Keep ReadingShow less
James Gunn attends the world premiere of Warner Bros. film "Clayface" at the Hollywood Legion Theater.
VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images

James Gunn Speaks Out About 'Trying' Time As DC Studios Head In Bittersweet Statement After Stepping Down

Four years ago, James Gunn was handed the keys to DC Studios to rescue a superhero universe that couldn't get out of its own way. Apparently, even Superman couldn't save him from Hollywood's corporate politics.

In October 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav appointed Gunn and Peter Safran as DC Studios' co-chairmen and co-CEOs, praising their “singular and complementary talents.” Gunn oversaw creative direction, while Safran handled business and production.

Keep ReadingShow less