Director Joss Whedon Steps Away From Batgirl Movie

As previously reported by Variety earlier last year, Batgirl was set to receive a standalone movie connected to the cinematic DC universe, and it would be helmed by Avengers and Buffy The Vampire Slayer director Joss Whedon. The film was to be based on Babara Gordon's initial comic debut from 1967, where she donned the cowl to save the dynamic duo from Killer Moth, but in a reveal story by The Hollywood Reporter, Whedon announced that he is removing himself from the project.

"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. The publication goes on to write that "industry sources" said that the director may have struggled with the weight of writing a story about a prominent female superhero in light of the public controversy surrounding his portrayal of Black Widow in Avenger: Age of Ultron.

Whedon stepped in during the final production stages of Justice League in order for director Zack Synder to spend time with his family after his daughter's death. With this in mind, it seems as though DC and Warner Bros. already have a good relationship with Whedon, but it's anyone's guess where he might go next.

[Source: The Hollywood Reporter via Polygon]