‘Batgirl’ star filled with ‘grief,’ pleads for studio to release scrapped film
“Batgirl” star Ivory Aquino will not allow for the scrapped film’s wings to be clipped.
Aquino posted a lengthy letter on Twitter on Thursday, pleading with the Warner Bros. Studios’ CEO to properly release the film, just one day after a rumor surfaced that the movie was being shown on the studio lot at “funeral screenings.”
Aquino — who is transgender and played trans character Alysia Yeoh in the movie — tagged CEO David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery and even Batgirl herself, Leslie Grace, throughout the expansive tweet thread.
“A letter to #DavidZaslav @WBD Dear Mr. Zaslav, I just read an article @THR about supposed ‘funeral screenings’ of #Batgirl and the possibility afterwards that the film footage would be destroyed.. if this is the case, as one of many who poured our hearts into the making of this movie, I ask that this measure be reconsidered,” Aquino began.
“As much as I’ve tried my best to be strong these past few weeks, I’d find myself crying, for lack of a better term, from grief, and tonight was one of those nights,” she continued. “As much as Batgirl has been labeled a woke film, it simply came together that way because of writing that reflects the world we live in.”
Aquino also drew on a personal connection to the movie’s plot.
“For me, 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, and 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,” Aquino shared.
“I’ve found myself not being able to talk about this ordeal with anyone. I realized that no one, apart from those involved with the film, would truly understand what we’re feeling.”
Aquino also referenced “In the Heights” alum Grace, who was one of the cast members who reportedly found Warner Bros.’ decision to pull the film to be “humiliating” and “disappointing.”
“And talking about it with my castmates, I feel, might be akin to rubbing salt on a still-open wound. My heart goes out to @LeslieGrace and our beloved directors and entire crew & cast who spent months dedicating their all to this endeavor,” she said.
“Leslie [Grace] checked in on me the day we found out of the shelving and only had words of comfort and support. I’ve dared not ask since if she’s spent nights holding back tears like I have because she has had to be the face of our Batgirl family and has had to put on a brave face as a way of taking care of us the way she gracefully steered our film.”
Grace, however, may get to fly after all. Warner Bros. executives are allegedly working on a chance for her to play the role of the teenage vigilante Barbara Gordon in a future DC Comics project, or “at least” offer her a starring role in another Warner Bros. production.
Aquino additionally suggested that “Batgirl” — which she called “a product of our hearts and souls” — deserves more of a chance, adding that she wished “that the little cogs not simply be seen as widgets whose fates are determined by an equation to benefit the bottom line.
“More than widgets, we are fellow human beings and artists who, when given the chance, can outperform the equation and multiply the bottom line exponentially,” she added.
People surrounding “Batgirl” have spoken out about the film since it was declared dead. Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah told the Skript YouTube channel in an interview that they don’t have any footage from the project, claiming the studio blocked their access to the production servers after it was shelved.
Warner Bros. Discovery, however, has yet to address their claim.
“Mallrats” director Kevin Smith also gave his two cents, saying, “It’s an incredibly bad look to cancel the Latina Batgirl movie.”
In fact, Aquino even alluded to the percolating negativity in her Twitter rant.
“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,” Aquino quipped on Twitter.
“Now, more people know about our labor of love and are eager to see the movie. I do hope you get to read this letter. Consider releasing Batgirl,” Aquino begged.
“She’s always been an underdog and has nowhere to go but up.”
Comics scribe Gail Simone also supported the actress’s efforts, quote tweeting one of her bits and posting: “As a long-term writer of Batgirl and the creator of the character the wonderful @MsIvoryAquino plays in this film, I could not be more proud to know her than I am at this moment.
“Please read her heartfelt words and share them,” she encouraged.
The Post has contacted Warner Bros. and DC for comment.
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