Batgirl star Ivory Aquino won’t allow the movie’s wings to be clipped.
Aquino posted a lengthy letter on Twitter on Thursday, asking the CEO of Warner Bros. Studios to properly release the scrapped film, just one day after the film was rumored to be showing on the studio lot at “funeral screenings.”
Aquino, who is transgender and played trans character Alysia Yeoh in the film, tagged CEO David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery and even Batgirl herself, Leslie Grace, throughout the extensive tweet thread, the New York Postreports
“A letter to #DavidZaslav @WBD Dear Mr. Zaslav, I just read an article @THR about the alleged ‘funeral screenings’ of #Batgirl and the possibility that footage from the film was later destroyed. if this is the case, as one of the many who poured our hearts into the making of this film, I ask that this move be reconsidered,” Aquino began.
“As much as I’ve tried my best to be strong these past few weeks, I would find myself crying, for lack of a better term, in pain, and tonight was one of those nights,” she continued. “As much as Batgirl has been labeled as a woke film, it simply came together as such because of writing that reflects the world we live in.”
Aquino also drew on a personal connection to the film’s plot.
“For me, more than anything, it’s a father-daughter story that hits home when my father passed away a year ago, shortly before I booked this project, and I hoped it would resonate with other kids around the world, older .and not so old, who have the highest regard for their parents and who could see Batgirl as a story of that special bond,” Aquino shared.
“I found myself unable to talk about this ordeal with anyone. I realized that no one, other than those involved with the film, would really understand what we were feeling.”
Aquino also referred In the Heights student Grace, who was one of the cast members who found Warner Bros.’ the decision to pull the film for being “humiliating” and “disappointing”.
“And talking about it with my cast mates, I think, might be like rubbing salt on a still-open wound. My heart goes out to @LeslieGrace and our beloved directors and the entire crew and cast who spent months dedicating- everything to this effort,” he said.
“Leslie [Grace] he checked in on me the day we discovered the shelf and we had nothing but words of comfort and support.
“I haven’t dared to ask since he spent the nights holding back tears like me because he had to be the face of our Batgirl family and has had to put on a brave face as a way to take care of us the way she directed our film with grace.”
Grace, however, can get to fly after all. The executives at Warner Bros. are working on an opportunity to play teenage vigilante Barbara Gordon in a future DC Comics project, or “at least” offer her a starring role in another Warner Bros. production.
Aquino suggested it as well Batgirl — which she called “a product of our hearts and souls” — deserves more of a chance, adding that she wished “the little cogs aren’t seen simply as widgets whose fate is determined by an equation to benefit the bottom line “.
“More than widgets, we are other human beings and artists who, when given the opportunity, can overcome the equation and multiply the result exponentially,” he added.
People around him Batgirl they’ve talked about the film since she was pronounced dead. Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah told YouTube channel Skript in an interview that they do not have any footage from the project, claiming that the studio blocked their access to the production servers after it was shelved.
Warner Bros. Discovery, however, has yet to address his claim.
spoiled brats Director Kevin Smith also gave his two cents, saying, “It’s an incredibly bad look to cancel the Latina Batgirl movie.”
In fact, Aquino even alluded to the negativity seeping into his Twitter rant.
“If a month ago, there was no marketing budget for Batgirldare I say that has been taken care of with the turn of events these past few weeks,” Aquino said on Twitter.
“Now, more people know about our labor of love and are anxious to see the film. I hope you will read this letter. Consider the release Batgirl”, pleaded Aquino.
“He’s always been an underdog and has nowhere to go but up.”
Comic book writer Gail Simone also supported the actress’ efforts, citing a tweet from one of her snippets and posting, “As a long-term writer of Batgirl and the creator of the character who plays the wonderful @MsIvoryAquino in this movie, couldn’t be more proud to know her than right now.
“Please read his heartfelt words and share them,” she encouraged.
The publication has contacted Warner Bros. and DC for comments.
This article originally appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission