Despite the shocking news of Warner Bros. shelving the $90 million ‘Batgirl’ film after completion, Michael Keaton, who was set to play Batman in the project, seems unconcerned. In an interview with GQ, he remarked, “I don’t sweat anything. I had a great time, and I got a nice check.”
‘Batgirl’, intended for a 2022 release on HBO Max, was based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, known for their work on ‘Ms. Marvel’, the film starred Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl.
Keaton, who previously donned the cape and cowl in Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ (1989) and ‘Batman Returns’ (1992), reprised his role for ‘Batgirl’ before his appearance in the poorly-received ‘The Flash’ (2023). He expressed support for the directors, saying, “I like those guys. They’re good guys. I root for them, I want them to succeed. I think they were really bummed [about the cancellation], and I feel bad for them. Me? No problem.”
During the interview, Keaton reportedly rubbed his fingers together, mimicking the gesture of money, hinting at his business-first philosophy in Hollywood. He was initially hesitant about the strategic narrative of his comeback, used in the marketing for ‘Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)’ (2014). “Some really smart guy I really love said, ‘Comeback… that’s the story.’ And I was like, ‘Dude, this is bullshit!’.” Keaton clarifies that he had been actively involved in other projects before ‘Birdman’, negating the notion of a return.
He maintains, “I could see how they could come up with a comeback story, but I knew that every time I opened my mouth, it would be bullshit. And by the way, I know business, and I like business. I don’t sweat it. This is business.” Keaton’s pragmatic approach is evident in his perspective on the industry. He advises, “Don’t panic. If you wallow in self-pity, you get hurt. So don’t wallow. Get anxious. Be nervous. Think, ‘I’m not doing well right now.’ But if you start wallowing, it’s over.”
