In the grand tradition of &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hakeem-jeffries-debuts-new-trump-nickname-proves-he-learned-nothing-from-cocaine-mitch">Cocaine Mitch</a>&#8221; McConnell (R-KY), &#8220;CNN NewsNight&#8221; host Abby Phillip accidentally gave President Donald Trump a new nickname that, if anything, will only make him sound cooler.
Phillip began a roundtable discussion with a reference to Trump&#8217;s decision to invoke Section 740 of the Home Rule Act and deploy federal resources in Washington, D.C., in an effort to tackle the rampant violent crime that has been plaguing the city and putting residents and visitors at risk.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CNN&#8217;s Abby Phillip:
&#8220;Donald Trump makes himself Batman and the nation’s capital is Gotham City.&#8221;
That makes President Trump sound SUPER COOL!
Don&#8217;t think that was Abby&#8217;s intention at all. <a href="https://t.co/DeNP1nUVwh">pic.twitter.com/DeNP1nUVwh</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1955088342661382540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Let&#8217;s get right to what America is talking about,&#8221; she began. &#8220;Donald Trump makes himself Batman and the nation’s capital is Gotham City. The President of the United States has declared himself Crime Fighter in Chief, and he&#8217;s taking over Washington&#8217;s police force. It is a move that the D.C. Mayor is calling &#8216;unsettling and unprecedented.'&#8221;
The immediate response from Trump voters was to embrace the nickname, flooding X with memes and comments referring to Trump as Batman.
&#8220;I voted for this,&#8221; one posted with an AI-generated image of Trump as Batman with Vice President JD Vance as Robin.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I voted for this. <a href="https://t.co/WRMux4ElcV">https://t.co/WRMux4ElcV</a> <a href="https://t.co/nkA1jUNTE1">pic.twitter.com/nkA1jUNTE1</a>
— Burt Macklin (@BurtMaclin_FBI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BurtMaclin_FBI/status/1955263215044067791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I&#8217;m whatever Gotham needs me to be,&#8221; another added, including an image of Trump in the iconic cape and cowl.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I&#8217;m whatever Gotham needs me to be. <a href="https://t.co/dLq87STYp8">https://t.co/dLq87STYp8</a> <a href="https://t.co/PyWsExDKhC">pic.twitter.com/PyWsExDKhC</a>
— Christian Martinez (@C_RMartinez) <a href="https://twitter.com/C_RMartinez/status/1955091308575355337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We call this stumbling upon truth,&#8221; one quipped in response to Phillip&#8217;s comment.
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We call this stumbling upon truth <a href="https://t.co/DVDeXONGdD">https://t.co/DVDeXONGdD</a>
— Derek. (@SuitablePolitic) <a href="https://twitter.com/SuitablePolitic/status/1955250668693815454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Ya&#8217;ll really trying to make @realDonaldTrump look even more badass aren&#8217;t you?&#8221; another asked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yall really trying to make <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> look even more badass aren&#8217;t you <a href="https://twitter.com/abbydphillip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abbydphillip</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/zUFO9jYZaA">https://t.co/zUFO9jYZaA</a> <a href="https://t.co/0vHPK70QZo">pic.twitter.com/0vHPK70QZo</a>
— Rollo (@SportsRollo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsRollo/status/1955251801424335072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And of course, a number pointed out the fact that years ago — when asked by a young boy if he was Batman — Trump said that he was: &#8220;I am Batman!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CNN&#8217;s Abby Phillip: &#8220;Donald Trump makes himself Batman and the nation’s capital is Gotham City.&#8221;
President Trump: &#8220;I am Batman&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/GiwUHsSO8X">https://t.co/GiwUHsSO8X</a> <a href="https://t.co/HfTcPkfGHp">pic.twitter.com/HfTcPkfGHp</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1955222840690569497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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TOPSHOT-LEBANON-ENTERTAINMENT-CINEMA-BATMAN

CNN Slaps Trump With New Nickname, Accidentally Makes Him Sound Cooler

Batman

Crime

Donald Trump

Media

Politics

Superheroes

“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">The Batman</a>” actor Paul Dano is weighing in on the debate over “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/superheroes">superhero</a> fatigue,” the current trend of comic book-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">films</a> like “Madame Web” and “The Marvels” underperforming at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">box office</a>. 
The 39-year-old says all hope is not lost for future films in this genre. He says the concept just needs some tweaking. 
“It’s an interesting moment where everybody has to go like, ‘OK – what now?’ Hopefully from that, somebody either breathes new life into [comic book movies], or something else blossoms which is not superheroes,” Dano told The Independent during an interview published Friday. “I’m sure there will still be some good ones yet to come, but I think it’s kind of a welcome moment.”
“It’s a larger thing, too,” he continued. “As soon as the word ‘content’ came into what we do – meaning making movies or TV – it meant quantity over quality, which I think was a big misstep. And I certainly don’t need that as a viewer or as an artist.”
Dano went on to speculate why “The Batman” succeeded where so many others had failed. “There are enough comic book movies where you just know what you’re gonna get,” the actor said. “Reading the script for &#8216;The Batman,&#8217; you knew it was a real film. Every sentence… that’s just [writer/director] Matt Reeves.”
A sequel to The Batman is slated to be released on October 3, 2025. Dano is currently promoting his newest film, “Spaceman,” a sci-fi movie starring Adam Sandler about an astronaut sent on a mission to the edge of the solar system while encountering a giant spider-like creature who will help him solve his problems.
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The conversation about superhero films not performing as strongly in Hollywood has been a hot topic lately. In November, the newest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) installment, “The Marvels,” had the lowest opening weekend in the franchise’s history with just $47 million.
“Captain America: A Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts,” and “Blade” — all initially slated for 2024 — are being pushed to 2025, at least in part because of strike-related production delays. That means the only Marvel release scheduled for 2024 is “Deadpool 3.”

Paul Dano

‘The Batman’ Actor Weighs In On Superhero Fatigue, Offers Solution For Future Films

'The Batman' Actor Weighs In On Superhero Fatigue, Offers Solution For Future Films

Box Office

Entertainment

Movies

U.S.

&#8220;Shazam&#8221; star Zachary Levi said he almost didn&#8217;t try out for a role in the latest superhero film from DC because at the time he was in a &#8220;dark place&#8221; and undergoing &#8220;life-saving therapy.&#8221;
During the 42-year-old actor&#8217;s recent appearance on &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaJ-eB6fVxY">The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon</a>,&#8221; Levi said during this &#8220;super intensive&#8221; therapy he was encouraged by a casting exec to try out.
&#8220;I was in kind of a dark place in my life at that point,&#8221; the superhero star said. &#8220;And then fast-forward about a month and a half later, and I&#8217;m in this super intensive, life-saving therapy, and I learned how to love myself, really, for the first time in my life, and I have this whole breakthrough.&#8221;
The &#8220;Shazam! Fury of the Gods&#8221; star then turned to the audience and said &#8220;By the way, go love yourself. If you learn nothing else today, go love yourself, go love yourself, go love yourself, okay?&#8221;
He explained that even though he told his agents he was going to be &#8220;off grid&#8221; for a bit to work on himself, two in a half weeks into this therapy they told him about a supporting role in the movie &#8220;Shazam.&#8221;
WATCH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaJ-eB6fVxY
He said he decided to go cause he was feeling &#8220;good about himself&#8221; after two weeks into the therapy, ended up &#8220;doing one take&#8221; and sent in the audition tape.
&#8220;And in the course of basically one week, I ended up going from auditioning for this whole other role to them saying, &#8216;Hey, we think you&#8217;re our Shazam,'&#8221; Levi explained.
&#8220;They flew me to Los Angeles,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I had done all my therapy that I needed to do. I go to L.A. I audition and within one week I was Shazam.&#8221;
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&#8220;I just think it&#8217;s indicative of when we do the real work to heal ourselves, and help other people heal themselves, that&#8217;s where all the good stuff comes from,&#8221; the actor continued. &#8220;That&#8217;s where that blessing landed in my life.&#8221;
The &#8220;Shazam&#8221; sequel is the first superhero film to be released under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran who recently took over as heads of DC studios.
Gunn recently hinted at what kind of movies/TV projects he and Safran have planned at the studio, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/james-gunn-teases-plans-for-upcoming-dc-movies-tv-projects">reported</a>.
&#8220;One of the things of the DCU is that it&#8217;s not just a story of heroes and villains,&#8221; Gunn explained. &#8220;Not every film and TV show is going to be about good guy versus bad guy, giant things from the sky comes and good guy wins. There are white hats, black hats, and grey hats.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/james-gunn-teases-plans-for-upcoming-dc-movies-tv-projects">James Gunn Teases Plans For Upcoming DC Movies/TV Projects</a>

Zachary Levi-2

‘Dark Place’: ‘Shazam’ Star Says He Almost Didn’t Try Out For Role Because He Was Undergoing ‘Life-Saving Therapy’

Celebrities

Hollywood

James Gunn

Superman

Wonder Woman

On Tuesday, DC Comics released an issue featuring a “pregnant” Joker who “births” a son.
The son, a mud monster who Joker vomits into existence, transforms into a smaller carbon copy of the Joker reminiscent of an Austin Powers-esque Mini-Me trope. The storyline appeared as a backup feature in the fourth book in the series, “The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, DC released a comic in which the Joker becomes pregnant and gives birth to a mud monster who transforms into a child-version of himself who he adopts as his son.
&#8230;I don&#8217;t know how much longer I can do this&#8230;<a href="https://twitter.com/ComicLoverMari?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ComicLoverMari</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MrGabeHernandez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrGabeHernandez</a> <a href="https://t.co/WUIUf4RI23">pic.twitter.com/WUIUf4RI23</a>
— Jester_Bell 🎥 🍿 🥳 (@TheresaCampagna) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheresaCampagna/status/1610363700569059328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
It appears that the Joker was “impregnated” by a nemesis who he became enamored with: the female magician Zatanna. She curses the Joker, proclaiming that no one else could have his baby as she knocks him into a mud puddle. While Zatanna intended for the spell to ensure he never had children, it inadvertently “impregnated” the Joker.
The comic summary on DC’s website didn’t disclose the backup storyline:
<blockquote>Why did The Joker cross town? To get to the bottom of the mystery that has been haunting him: Who is the man pretending to be The Joker and what does he want? But every lead he follows is a dead end, and every move he makes brings the Red Hood one step closer to him. What happens when the former Clown Prince of Crime comes face-to-face with the current crime boss of Gotham? Everyone is dying to find out.</blockquote>
The comic was written by <a href="https://www.dc.com/talent/matthew-rosenberg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matthew Rosenberg</a>, whose bylines with DC Comics span 72 titles.
Comic review site Batman News <a href="https://batman-news.com/2023/01/03/joker-the-man-who-stopped-laughing-4-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">characterized</a> this latest edition as “probably the worst story” read by them — and not just for the Joker impregnation bit. The critic, Theresa Campagna, noted that the Joker has never been a character obsessed with chasing after women. Campagna surmised that Rosenberg must have been influenced by marijuana.
“This is one of those comics you can’t really review, because there’s no real story or artistic vision to pick apart,” said Campagna. “Writing aside, however, there have been a lot of these little moments or stories at DC lately that make me go, ‘How the heck did DC editorial give that a green light?’”
DC has incorporated a social justice spin on its classic characters over the past few years, progressing these narratives despite a steep, steady <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/crowdfunding-site-cancels-comic-book-about-vigilante-targeting-drug-dealers-at-border-after-leftists-complain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decline</a> in sales.
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One of the “woke” comics that failed more recently was “Superman: Son of Kal-El,” in which Clark Kent’s son, Jonathan, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dc-made-superman-gay-climate-change-activist-readers-arent-buying-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> to be bisexual. DC Comics then incorporated this new version of Superman into their “<a href="https://www.dc.com/reader/%23/comics/485737" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DC Pride</a>” anthology, giving him a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gay-supermans-boyfriend-gets-him-surprising-new-gift-in-dcs-latest-caper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">makeover</a> with a rainbow Pride Flag cape.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Superman Now Bisexual: Don’t Need ‘Another Straight White Savior,’ Writer Says <a href="https://t.co/i17rPwPPXI">https://t.co/i17rPwPPXI</a> <a href="https://t.co/HlXFU8wuH3">pic.twitter.com/HlXFU8wuH3</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1447617131013541890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
After initial interest from fans, the series quickly <a href="https://cosmicbook.news/fans-reject-woke-superman-dc-comics-sales-terrifying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped out</a> of top ratings within a month.
Prior to the LGBTQ+ focus, DC Comics would use its books to respond to other current social justice issues. In 2017, DC <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/superman-protects-illegal-immigrants-white-james-barrett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a comic as an apparent rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would shut down former President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The comic depicted Superman rescuing a group of illegal immigrants from a white man donning an American flag bandana and wielding a machine gun. The assailant was angry that the group had stolen jobs from him.
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Action Comics #987 <a href="https://t.co/zUwXcEWQNV">pic.twitter.com/zUwXcEWQNV</a>
— young george costanza (@bigboybouhanna) <a href="https://twitter.com/bigboybouhanna/status/907951519483486208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2017</a></blockquote>

Joker

DC Releases Comic With ‘Pregnant Joker’ Who ‘Births’ A Son

DC Releases Comic With 'Pregnant Joker' Who 'Births' A Son

Comics

General

Actor Kevin Conroy, 66, who was well-known as the voice of Batman in the animated series of the character, died on Thursday.
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The iconic voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, has passed away at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer. 💔
The actor is known for his long run as Batman in “Batman: The Animated Series” and many other animated Batman and DC projects from 1992 to present. <a href="https://t.co/xiRc2Apsvv">pic.twitter.com/xiRc2Apsvv</a>
&mdash; Etalk (@etalkCTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/etalkCTV/status/1591136926513639424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Conroy voiced the character in 85 episodes of &#8220;Batman: The Animated Series&#8221; (1992-1996) as well as 15 films including &#8220;Batman: Mask of the Phantasm&#8221; and 15 animated series.
“Kevin was far more than an actor whom I had the pleasure of casting and directing – he was a dear friend for 30+ years whose kindness and generous spirit knew no boundaries,” casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano stated, as dc.com <a href="https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/11/11/kevin-conroy-preeminent-voice-of-batman-passes-away-at-age-66?linkId=189232885&amp;linkId=189234578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “Kevin&#8217;s warm heart, delightfully deep laugh and pure love of life will be with me forever.”
Conroy studied acting at The Julliard School with compatriots including Christopher Reeve, Frances Conroy, and Robin Williams. He played Hamlet at the 1984 New York Shakespeare Festival as well as being featured on TV in shows such as &#8220;Dynasty,&#8221; &#8220;Tour of Duty,&#8221; &#8220;Ohara,&#8221; &#8220;Cheers,&#8221; &#8220;Murphy Brown,&#8221; &#8220;Spenser: For Hire,&#8221; and &#8220;Matlock.&#8221;
“Kevin brought a light with him everywhere,” Paul Dini, producer of &#8220;Batman: The Animated Series,&#8221; declared, “whether in the recording booth giving it his all, or feeding first responders during 9/11, or making sure every fan who ever waited for him had a moment with their Batman. A hero in every sense of the word. Irreplaceable. Eternal.”
Tara Strong, who voiced Batgirl in the DC Animated Universe, tweeted, “I don’t have the words. Not today. My heart is broken. There will never be another. He IS #Batman.”
“Early on, I said, ‘This is the most famous and powerful guy in Gotham,” Conroy told <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/kevin-conroy-dead-batman-voice-actor-1235260222/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> in 2017. “Are you telling me he just puts on a mask and no one knows it’s him? Seriously? There’s got to be more to the disguise. My template for the two voices was the 1930s film The Scarlet Pimpernel. I played Bruce Wayne as sort of a humorous playboy to counteract the brooding nature of Batman.”
Of &#8220;Mask of the Phantasm,&#8221; Conroy recalled Romano’s reaction after he had finished an emotional scene: “Andrea came in after the recording and grabbed me in a hug. Andrea said, ‘I don’t know where you went [emotionally], but it was a beautiful performance.’ She knew I was drawing on something.”

2021 Los Angeles Comic Con

Longtime Voice Of Batman Dies

Animation

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-bond" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Bond star</a> Pierce Brosnan revealed what he called the &#8220;stupid&#8221; comment he made that sunk his chances to play Batman, a role that eventually went to Michael Keaton.
During the 69-year-old actor&#8217;s recent appearance on &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jEYhmfOvKk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Tonight Show</a>,&#8221; Brosnan told host Jimmy Fallon that when he auditioned for the role of the caped crusader in Tim Burton&#8217;s 1989 movie, titled &#8220;Batman,&#8221; he really messed up.
&#8220;I went up for Batman way back in the day when Tim Burton was doing it,&#8221; the &#8220;Die Another Day&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/james-bond-actors-speak-after-queen-elizabeth-iis-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">star</a> explained. &#8220;Obviously, I didn&#8217;t get the job.&#8221;
&#8220;But I remember saying something stupid to Tim Burton, I said, &#8216;You know I can&#8217;t understand any man who would wear his underpants outside his trousers,’” he added. &#8220;But there you go … the best man got the job.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Burton ended up picking Keaton, whose take on Batman has become one of the most iconic in all the caped crusader films. Keaton would later reprise the role in 1992’s &#8220;Batman Returns.”
Now, the 71-year-old actor will once again don the cape in the upcoming film &#8220;The Flash&#8221; as Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. the Dark Knight, in the movie that hits the theaters in June 2023, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/04/26/batman-michael-keaton-the-flash-first-footage/9546664002/">USA Today</a> noted.
As far as Brosnan, he might not have gotten to be Batman, but he did do okay after landing the famed role of 007 in several Bond films starting in 1995 with &#8220;Golden Eye,&#8221; followed by &#8220;Tomorrow Never Dies&#8221; two years later. He would return to the spy role two years after that in &#8220;The World is Not Enough&#8221; before exiting the franchise in 2002 with &#8220;Die Another Day.&#8221;
Following news that Daniel Craig was leaving the Bond franchise, Brosnan said he really didn&#8217;t have an opinion. Craig has played James Bond in five of the franchise&#8217;s films, from 2006-2021.
&#8220;Who should do it?&#8221; Pierce said to <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/the-brosnan-boys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GQ</a> magazine. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;ll be interesting to see who they get, who the man shall be,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Whoever he be, I wish him well.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actress-ana-de-armas-says-theres-no-need-for-a-female-bond-no-need-to-steal-someone-elses-character" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Actress Ana De Armas Says There&#8217;s &#8216;No Need For A Female Bond,&#8217; No Need To &#8216;Steal Someone Else&#8217;s Character&#8217;</a>

Today – Season 67

James Bond Star Reveals ‘Stupid’ Comment He Made That Sunk His Shot At Playing Batman

Pierce Brosnan Reveals ‘Stupid’ Comment He Made That Sunk His Shot At Playing Batman

James Bond

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">Hollywood</a> is still reeling from the cancellation of the $90 million “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/batman">Batgirl</a>” movie. Now, one of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film&#8217;s</a> directors claims he was blocked from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/warner-bros">Warner Bros</a>. servers when he tried to record footage on his cell phone.
Per <a href="https://collider.com/batgirl-cancellation-footage-bilall-fallah-adil-el-arbi-warner-bros/">Collider</a>, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah said during a recent interview with SKRIPT that they attempted to salvage some of the footage upon hearing that “Batgirl” would never see the light of day. But when they tried, the directors couldn’t access the project anymore. 
Fallah said, &#8220;Adil called me and told me, ‘Go ahead! Shoot everything on your phone!&#8217; I went on the server &#8230; and everything was blocked. There was no way to access the film. We were: &#8216;F***ing sh**!&#8217; All the scenes with Batman we didn’t get to keep!&#8221;
The movie was abruptly canceled despite being in post-production and slated for a 2022 release. Then Warner Bros. execs chose to make the movie a tax write-off to recoup some of the funds they spent making it. It’s the most expensive Hollywood film ever canceled. 
“Batgirl” starred Leslie Grace as the titular superhero. The studio has said all along that bad acting was not the issue, a claim which Arbi and Fallah reiterated during the interview. They also said the movie&#8217;s quality was good. 
“It was not a talent problem on our part, the actress, or even the quality of the movie,” Fallah explained to SKRIPT. “We were right in the middle of editing, there was still a lot of work to be done! It was not like the movie was finished. But they told us it was a strategic change. New management. And they could save some cash.”
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/warner-bros-shelves-batgirl-movie-despite-spending-90-million-shocking-industry">reported</a> earlier this month, Warner Bros. made sure to state that Grace’s performance was not the problem.
“The decision to not release ‘Batgirl’ reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” a Warner spokesperson stated at the time.
“Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance.”
“We are saddened and shocked by the news. … As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences,” the directors agreed.
Fallah and Arbi said Grace “portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication, and humanity” and said, “We wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film for themselves.”

In this photo illustration the Warner Bros. logo seen

‘Batgirl’ Director Says He Tried To Record Clips On His Cell Phone But Was Blocked From Warner Bros. Servers

'Batgirl' Director Says He Tried To Record Clips On His Cell Phone But Was Blocked From Warner Bros. Servers

Warner Bros

President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&#8216;s staffer tweeted a meme Sunday of a super-imposed picture of the president standing in front of what resembles the Reichsadler Eagle symbol used by Germany&#8217;s Nazi Party.
Andrew Bates, deputy press secretary for the White House, tweeted on Sunday a meme that altered the movie poster of Christopher Nolan&#8217;s &#8220;The Dark Knight Rises,&#8221; the final installment of The Dark Knight Trilogy.
&#8220;THE DARK BRANDON RISES,&#8221; the meme reads with Biden standing in front of a flaming Nazi Germany eagle symbol replacing the bat symbol, wearing a black suit, striped tie, and an eye patch.
&#8220;THE MALARKEY WILL END,&#8221; the tagline reads on the altered image.
Bates replied to a quote tweet from an original post of a separate Biden meme with laser eyes that read, &#8220;Your malarkey has been going on for long enough, kiddo.&#8221;
&#8220;Dark Brandon is crushing it,&#8221; Bates tweeted.
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 <a href="https://t.co/eb1AxcMFyK">pic.twitter.com/eb1AxcMFyK</a>
&mdash; Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewJBates46/status/1556451566957346816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Biden&#8217;s communications army has attempted to make the &#8220;Dark Brandon&#8221; trend happen since March in response to America First Conservatives, who initially started using the phrase &#8220;Dark MAGA.&#8221;
One could argue that the symbol looks closer to the classic emblem for the Ford Thunderbird, which has straight edges on the wings rather than the curved imperial eagle wings. However, Twitter users took the opportunity to slam the tweet and the &#8220;Dark Brandon&#8221; trend.
Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Florida&#8217;s Gov. Ron DeSantis, <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristinaPushaw/status/1556659712405413894">asked</a>, &#8220;Why would a White House Deputy Press Secretary post a meme of his boss with a Nazi symbol in the background?&#8221;
Tim Murtaugh, former communications director for President Trump, compared the <a href="https://twitter.com/TimMurtaugh/status/1556640195751157762">tweet</a> with previous hits accusing on the 45th president that accused him of using neo-Nazi symbolism.
&#8220;In 2020, the Trump campaign faced a week of stories and fact checks about a t-shirt with an eagle on it,&#8221; Murtaugh said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see if a tweet from an official Biden White House account gets the same treatment.&#8221;
Cyd Zeigler, a sports commentator and co-founder of Outsports and the National Gay Flag Football League, alluded to the fact he has lost hope for the Biden Administration since the president took office last year.
&#8220;The White House has lost its collective mind,&#8221; Zeigler <a href="https://twitter.com/CydZeigler/status/1556765385424338944">said</a>. &#8220;Now Nazi imagery for the Biden Administration. I had such high hopes 18 months ago. Now this November they have no one to blame but themselves …&#8221;
Alec Sears, a digital staffer at the Republican National Committee, said the &#8220;Dark Brandon&#8221; expression began as Chinese propaganda.
&#8220;&#8230; and then the White House co-opted it using Nazi Eagle imagery &#8230;&#8221; Sears <a href="https://twitter.com/alec_sears/status/1556637212300779520">tweeted</a>. &#8220;They&#8217;re not sending their best.&#8221;
&#8220;Dark Brandon&#8221; appeared to have started on Twitter back in March when anonymous Twitter accounts sought to create an &#8220;edgy&#8221; version of the president, according to an online meme <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dark-brandon">database</a>.
Daily Wire CEO and Emeritus Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro slammed the trend on <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1556502020399431683?s=20&amp;t=DEbYffeZEfhrfzHNGh6Tpw">Twitter</a>.
&#8220;You can try to Dark Brandon meme your way out of sub-40 approval ratings all you want, but throwing hundreds of billions at green boondoggles in the middle of an inflationary spiral isn&#8217;t going to turn things around,&#8221; Shapiro tweeted.
&#8220;That said, the imagery of a dotard who can barely form words from his face-hole actually being a laser-eyed deathlord is pretty hilarious,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;THE DARK BRANDON RISES&#8221; supposedly hits theaters Nov. 8

Storm Clouds Over the White House

‘The Left Can’t Meme’: White House Staffer Tweets Biden Meme With Symbol Resembling Nazi Germany Imperial Eagle

Biden Administration

Joe Biden

Nazi Germany

Nazis

Neo-Nazis

Twitter

White House

It was <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-08-02/warner-bros-axes-90-million-batgirl-movie-that-had-been-planned-for-hbo-max">revealed</a> on Tuesday that Warner Bros. Discovery is scrapping its upcoming “Batgirl” film starring Leslie Grace, despite the studio investing $90 million into the film, and it nearing post-production completion.
Nevertheless, Warner Bros. has stated that the film will not receive a theatrical release, nor will be made available on HBO Max, the studio’s streaming service.
“The decision to not release &#8216;Batgirl&#8217; reflects our leadership&#8217;s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” a Warner spokesperson <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/batgirl-shelved-at-warner-bros-hbo-max-1235191371/">stated</a>.
The statement continued, countering rumors that the studio is unhappy with the performance of Leslie Grace, who is known more as a singer than an actress. “Leslie Grace is an incredibly talented actor and this decision is not a reflection of her performance.”
The statement concluded by saying how grateful Warner Bros. is to the film’s directors and cast, and “we hope to collaborate with everyone again in the near future.”
The character of Batgirl has been a vital part of the larger Batman universe, played in the past by Yvonne Craig and Alicia Silverstone. This new film stars Grace in the title role, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, Brendan Fraser as villain Firefly, and Michael Keaton as Batman.
This decision to shelve the film has been met with frustration by DC fans, many of whom were excited to see Keaton reprise his role as Batman. The move is also an unfortunate development for Fraser and Grace.
The film’s directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, whose last feature film was 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” have also released a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgzisvCMwmk/">statement</a> about the studio’s decision.
“We are saddened and shocked by the news. … As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences,” the directors stated.
They continued with praise for their lead actress, who they say “portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication, and humanity.” They also mention the fans, stating, “we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film for themselves.”
Variety’s Guy Lodge tweeted: “For fans who genuinely thrill to superhero movies: those who criticize the things you love aren’t half as great a threat to your viewing pleasure as those who finance them.”
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For fans who genuinely thrill to superhero movies: those who criticise the things you love aren’t half as great a threat to your viewing pleasure as those who finance them.
— Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuyLodge/status/1554708121607602178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
The official Twitter account for the film website I Can’t Unsee This Movie drew a comparison to the Zack Snyder “Justice League” fan campaign: “Wouldn’t it be wild if the #Batgirl cancellation ends up being a brilliant subversive marketing that fuels a #ReleaseTheBatgirlFilm campaign.”
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Wouldn’t it be wild if the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Batgirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Batgirl</a> cancellation ends up being a brilliant subversive marketing move that fuels a viral <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReleaseTheBatgirlFilm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReleaseTheBatgirlFilm</a> campaign and skyrockets interest and demand — by design?! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReleaseBatgirl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReleaseBatgirl</a> <a href="https://t.co/YtCfSvMzyY">pic.twitter.com/YtCfSvMzyY</a>
— I Can&#8217;t Unsee Movie (@CantUnseeMovie) <a href="https://twitter.com/CantUnseeMovie/status/1554653297801412609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
Warner Bros. Discovery will present its <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/warner-bros-discovery-questions-ahead-of-earnings-211645018.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHDFHWEYPEYVfwNo7NGA9F4rUcUbMs1ODpjAOrBL0qG59omiY2U4Qk7fBFTdYcCtM5ZgL74m3enH3xurG_4ZAK-1WrWNT27R4XGMvHAqbs-xnNjufp_EhO-c3vxjDNdNKmuGfIAEk-wy1pZELnXDhWTq3A4LkxhIJZpuaYd2ssfa">earnings report</a> on Thursday, at which point more news regarding company shakeups are expected.

Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Shelves ‘Batgirl’ Movie Despite Spending $90 Million, Shocking Industry

Warner Bros. Decides Against Releasing ‘Batgirl’ Movie

Over the weekend, actor Mark Hamill, mocked pro-life advocates in the wake of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, catalyzing them to fire back hard.
Hamill, whose fame is dependent on his career as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise films, taunted pro-life advocates by tweeting a picture of The Joker from Batman and his lover, Harley Quinn.
“We will adopt your baby,” Hamill tweeted with the picture.
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We Will Adopt Your Baby <a href="https://t.co/IP4YC54YYa">pic.twitter.com/IP4YC54YYa</a>
&mdash; Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1543317524908949504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Hamill’s taunt engendered responses such as these:
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It&#39;s easy for Mark Hamill to mock religious conservatives who want to adopt children. But does he make fun of his colleagues in Hollywood who do the same?
Adoption is a gift for many adults &amp; children
Shame on anyone who belittles adoption to score points in the abortion debate <a href="https://t.co/RM182Ub1bD">pic.twitter.com/RM182Ub1bD</a>
&mdash; Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelmpetlin/status/1543638669516574721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The point is <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarkHamill</a> is a really POS human being. He’s obsessed with abortion. Him and his wife tried to force their son’s baby mama to have an abortion. <a href="https://t.co/JJTfOTlopV">https://t.co/JJTfOTlopV</a>
&mdash; Rebecca Downs🇺🇸🟦🇮🇱 (@RebeccaRoseGold) <a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaRoseGold/status/1543417127188709377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Learning Luke Skywalker is a tone deaf a-hole is in no way a surprise if you understand the Jedi. <a href="https://t.co/lhK5NPWZz2">https://t.co/lhK5NPWZz2</a>
&mdash; Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) <a href="https://twitter.com/bdomenech/status/1543410544878575616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The fixation on this is super weird because &quot;we will adopt your baby&quot; is a statement directly tied to choice. They are asking women to choose to not abort by offering to adopt their baby. This doesn&#39;t contradict the system of choice &#8211; it operates within its boundaries. <a href="https://t.co/XVr4TakRbq">https://t.co/XVr4TakRbq</a>
&mdash; Noam Blum (@neontaster) <a href="https://twitter.com/neontaster/status/1543367695265107970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This is&#8230; Really bad. <a href="https://t.co/ZhLePUixND">https://t.co/ZhLePUixND</a>
&mdash; L A R R Y (@LarryOConnor) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarryOConnor/status/1543407810960130049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mocking those offering to adopt children rather than celebrating their killing. This is what you have become. <a href="https://t.co/IKbYFGT9B7">https://t.co/IKbYFGT9B7</a>
&mdash; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1543590449146896384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2016/09/11/hamills-pressured-me-to-have-an-abortion-nathan-hamills-ex/">reported</a> in 2016 that Maegan Chen, then 30, a former adult movie star, was suing in a California court to establish paternity, saying Hamill’s son Nathan, then 37, fathered the child and joined Hamill and his wife Marilou to pressure Chen to have an abortion.
“Mark Hamill told me that I shouldn’t bring a child into the world that nobody wants,” Chen told The Post, adding that Mark Hamill told her Nathan was “not ready to be a father.”
Chen said Nathan Hamill told her to end the pregnancy; she took two pills in order to do so, but they didn’t work. Chen showed the Post a text message after the pills failed that allegedly was sent by Nathan Hamill that stated, “If you keep it, we won’t hang out anymore.”
Other alleged texts from Nathan Hamill Chen shared:
“No money from a trust fund and no money from my parents. And you could be paying me child support if I have custody.”
“Just told my dad. My mom is really upset now. Today’s been a nightmare. I don’t know how I’m gonna last in this house with my family until July.”
Chen said she visited the Hamills in London and that Marilou Hamill arranged a medical appointment for her.
“I thought I was going to get an ultrasound of the baby, not a referral for an abortion,” she stated, adding that when she refused and returned to the United States, she received an email from an account linked to Mark Hamill written by Marilou, the CFO of Hamill’s production company, “Meagan, you blew it. &#8230; I don’t want you to think this is a money making endeavor because you will be extremely disappointed.”
A spokesman for the Hamills told the Post, “This matter is of a sensitive nature, as well as confidential, and as such, the Hamill family is unable to provide a comment at this time.”
Chen’s daughter Autumn was born on October 31, 2016, <a href="https://radaronline.com/videos/mark-hamill-son-nathan-in-child-custody-war-with-baby-mama/">Radar Online</a> reported in May 2017, adding, “On March 13, 2017, Nathan filed court documents in Clark County, Nevada, attempting to put the matter to rest legally.”
Chen stated, &#8220;Nathan originally told me he’d pay $500 a month in child support. Now he has blocked me on social media and blocked my email and phone number. &#8230; I have only seen him in court.&#8221;
&#8220;He is trying to run me down financially,” she claimed. “I had to sell my dog and cats, piano, and camera equipment just to pay for baby supplies and her stroller. &#8230; Whatever the court says is fair for child support, I’m fine with. But I want Nathan to put Autumn under his insurance. He needs to be responsible.
“As for Nathan, he&#8217;s claimed in court papers obtained by Radar that Chen lives in Nevada and is attempting to maintain a residence in California in order to get more money,” Radar Online reported.

Mark Hamill is Honored with Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

‘POS Human Being’: Mark Hamill Mocks Pro-Lifers With Joker Tweet. They Pummel Him.

Abortion

Mark Hamill

Supreme Court

Christian Bale, who gave iconic performances as Batman in filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s masterful trilogy about the Caped Crusader, suggested that he might be willing to don the cape one last time— on one condition.
Nolan’s trilogy was comprised of “Batman Begins” (2005), &#8220;The Dark Knight&#8221; (2008) and “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012). The films <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190707025757/https:/www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=darkknighttrilogy.htm">amassed</a> roughly $2.5 billion at the box office worldwide.
Asked about a potential return to the role, Bale told <a href="https://screenrant.com/christian-bale-batman-return-christopher-nolan-condition-response/">Screen Rant</a>, &#8220;No one’s ever mentioned it to me. No one’s brought it up. &#8230; Occasionally people say to me, ‘Oh, I hear you were approached and offered all this.’ And I’m like, ‘That’s news to me. No one’s ever said that.'&#8221;
“I had a pact with Chris Nolan,” Bale continued. “We said, ‘Hey, look. Let&#8217;s make three films, if we&#8217;re lucky enough to get to do that. And then let&#8217;s walk away. Let&#8217;s not linger too long.’ In my mind, it would be something if Chris Nolan ever said to himself, ‘You know what, I&#8217;ve got another story to tell.’ And if he wished to tell that story with me, I&#8217;d be in.”
Bale is set to star as Gorr the God Butcher in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which follows “Thor: Ragnarok.” Nolan is directing “Oppenheimer,” about J. Robert Oppenheimer and in the development of the atomic bomb, starring Cillian Murphy and set to premiere in 2023.
In 2003, prior to the release of Nolan’s first Batman film, he <a href="https://www.superherohype.com/features/83215-official-christian-bale-is-batman">said</a> of Bale, “What I see in Christian is the ultimate embodiment of Bruce Wayne. He has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for.”
Jeff Robinov, then president of production for Warner Bros. Pictures, added,  “Now that we’ve found the best person to play Batman, we are really looking forward to moving ahead with the rest of our casting, and are excited about the exceptional group we are assembling.”
Actors who have played Batman in films include Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s “Batman” and the sequel “Batman Returns”; Val Kilmer in “Batman Forever”; George Clooney in the campy “Batman &amp; Robin”; Ben Affleck in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Suicide Squad,” “Justice League,” and the upcoming “The Flash,” and Robert Pattinson in “The Batman.”
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/04/why-christian-bale-will-always-be-the-best-batman">The Guardian</a> opined, “Here’s why Bale, despite his own misgivings, will most likely be remembered as the greatest dark knight ever to stalk the rooftops of Gotham City. &#8230; Bale gave us a Batman we could believe in, in more ways than one. Crucially the character is never overplayed.”

The Dark Knight Rises – European Premiere – Inside Arrivals

Christian Bale Might Return As Batman — On One Condition

Christian Bale

Christopher Nolan

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