Joss Whedon, the writer-director responsible for cult-series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Marvel’s first two Avengers films and taking the reins Justice League reins after Zack Snyder’s beleaguered departure, reveals that his initial statement about leaving DC’s Batgirl project weren’t the “exact truth.” In February, he claimed the property “really didn’t have a story,” but it’s now clear that there were other, more honest reasons he left.
According to Uproxx, while Whedon’s relationship with DC was supposed to continue beyond the largely disappointing Justice League movie, and Batgirl was very much an active project in development, Whedon exited claiming a lack of substance was the core issue. While on the red carpet for the Avengers: Infinity War premiere in Los Angeles on Monday, however, he made clear that he was withholding some significant insight at the time.
“It had been a year since I first pitched the story,” said Whedon. “A lot happened in that year, and I felt some of the elements might not work as well. The story sort of crumbled in my hands. There were elements that I just hadn’t mastered, that, after a long time, I felt I wasn’t going to. So, I told people I didn’t have an idea, which isn’t the exact truth—I had an idea, it just sort of didn’t fit in the space that was left for it. So it was a little heartbreaking, ‘cause I was so excited about it, but I’m working on something of my own, and there’s nothing more exciting than that.”
As for the writer’s draft for a then non-existent Wonder Woman movie, he essentially disagrees with its critics—and staunchly defends his work.
“I don’t know which parts people didn’t like, but I went and re-read the script after I heard there was a backlash—I think it’s great,” said Whedon.
“People say that it’s not woke enough,” he continued. “I think they’re not looking at the big picture. It’s easy to take one phrase out of context. Not that I was the most woke individual that ever lived at that time ten years ago, but I was in there swinging and the movie has integrity and the characters have integrity and I stand by it.”
As for Batgirl, the superhero will get a big-screen treatment regardless of Whedon’s exit. As we reported earlier this month, screenwriter Christina Hodson will pen the script revolving around Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, Barbara, allying herself with the dark knight. While Hodson is currently in development of the Transformers spin-off, Bumblebee, we’ll just have to wait and see how Batgirl turns out—and if Whedon’s departure was a blessing in disguise, or an unfortunate reality.
