Brendan Fraser Blasts Studio for Axing His Unseen Superhero Film

Brendan Fraser’s comeback story is one for the ages. After some time away from the spotlight, he returned with a force that captivated Hollywood, culminating in a well-deserved Oscar for his role in The Whale. He's widely regarded as one of the genuinely good guys in the business, and his Academy Award cemented his place as a dramatic powerhouse. His career is back on track, and he's been working steadily ever since.

A Double Dose of Disappointment

But even the most optimistic and beloved figures have their limits. Fraser, despite his wholesome public image, has been openly angry about a particularly raw deal he's gotten not once, but twice. It’s one thing for a movie to flop; it’s another for it to never even see the light of day. This first happened with an animated project called Big Bug Man, which was notable for being the final credited role of the legendary Marlon Brando. The film was unceremoniously shelved, a frustrating experience that would unfortunately repeat itself years later.

History repeated itself when he joined the cast of Batgirl. The film seemed like a sure thing, but Fraser must have felt a terrible sense of déjà vu when it met the same fate.

The Batgirl Debacle

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the duo behind Bad Boys for Life, the DC comics film had Fraser playing the villain Firefly. He was set to face off against Leslie Grace as the titular hero, and the movie even featured the highly anticipated return of Michael Keaton as Batman. The film was shot and already in post-production when Warner Bros. made the shocking decision to scrap it entirely, writing it off for tax purposes.

Fraser didn't hide his disappointment. “The fans really wanted to see this film made,” he stated back in September 2022, just after the news broke. “Leslie Grace is a dynamo. The movie was shot and conceived for a smaller screen. In this age that we’ve come out of now between streaming service versus theatrical release, it would up being the canary in the coal mine. What did we learn from this? Work with trusted filmmakers.”

A Lingering Betrayal

Three years on, the decision still stings. Fraser has continued to speak about the cancellation, focusing on the missed opportunity for representation. “The tragedy of that is there’s a generation of little girls who don’t have a heroine to go up to and go, ‘She looks like me,'” he lamented. The return of a cinematic icon only added to his disbelief: “I mean, Michael Keaton came back as Batman! The Batman!”

He also took a direct shot at the studio executives who prioritized finances over art. “The product… I’m sorry, ‘content’, is being commodified to the extent that it’s more valuable to burn it down and get the insurance on it than to give it a shot in the marketplace,” Fraser said, making his disgust clear. “I mean, with respect, we could blight itself.” Barring a miracle, the project will remain locked away forever.