Batgirl’s wings clipped? Director Joss Whedon departs from the upcoming DC Comics + WB film

The DCU seemingly cannot catch a break. Joss Whedon, who has been particularly hyped about directing the upcoming Batgirl film, has revealed he is no longer attached to 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. 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’?

No, Joss. No there isn’t. I should know. Oh wait – “creative differences”.

But what THR contributed to Whedon’s ‘fail’ is partly due to representation and PC sensitivity surrounding female representation and that what should be more common place from a PR perspective is female directors should represent female-driven movies. Which is weird. Not in terms of having more female director but that Whedon wouldn’t direct because of it. Article felt like a slight reach. But then again, if WB saw Wonder Woman as a win because it was a female director at the hem, then it’s likely WB’s often ‘tunnel’ thought-process will take hold, seeing the combination as a formula to be replicated without end rather than an ecosystem that worked for a particular film.

Maybe it is as he said, he just didn’t have a good story. Or maybe his part directed Justice League didn’t sit well with the WB Execs. In any case, we hope his stepping aside doesn’t mean the project’s dead in the water.

But I guess at least Whedon stepped down rather than shove a narrative down our throats that he didn’t believe in and then apologise after the fact.

What you guys think the reason was for Joss Whedon’s departure from Batgirl? Tell us in the comment section + via Twitter @TheActionPixel and on Facebook