Yahoo News Joss Whedon quits as DC's Batgirl director
Joss Whedon's tenure in the DC Extended Universe has come to an end.
The filmmaker announced on Thursday (February 22) that he's dropped out of writing and directing a Batman spin-off movie centring around Batgirl, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Joss exhibited his trademark wit even while announcing his departure from the DCEU, saying: "Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realise 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'?"
Whedon was previously the creative steward of DC's rival Marvel Cinematic Universe, having directed 2012's The Avengers and its sequel Age of Ultron three years later. Amid the mixed reception to Age of Ultron, Whedon made the decision to leave Marvel.
It was a surprise when, two years later, Whedon started working with DC Entertainment for a female-centric superhero movie based around Batgirl - but he'd soon be thrust into a position of even greater authority.
Whedon stepped in last spring on the Justice League movie from original director Zack Snyder, and led the all-star cast through extensive reshoots mere months before the film was released last November to tepid box office receipts.
Following those reshoots, it quickly became clear that Whedon wasn't necessarily satisfied with the finished Justice League movie. He even went as far as to 'like' a critic's tweet calling Justice League's Steppenwolf the"worst comic book movie villain of all time".
Meanwhile, reports started emerging that DC was contemplating using Batgirl for a female-led Birds of Prey superhero team movie featuring the return of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, rather than introducing Batgirl in her own solo project.
The status of Batgirl now is anyone's guess, although there are early reports that DC and its partners at Warner Bros are considering a female director to completely reboot the project.
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