Rumor: Batgirl and Static Shock movies could go straight to HBO Max

We’ve known for a while that Static Shock and Batgirl will be getting their own movies, but they may not get cinematic releases…

With the world so up in the air right now, it’s hard to tell what is going on in the entertainment industry and when certain projects are going to be released. ComingSoon.net has reported a rumor that the upcoming Batgirl and Static Shock films are possibly going to drop on the HBO Max streaming service.

Now, if this rumor is correct, there may actually be a reason why Static Shock and Batgirl go to streaming instead of getting cinematic releases. According to ComingSoon, the films, which feature lesser-known characters from DC’s enormous catalogue, may find greater success on HBO Max than at the cinema.

Static Shock and Batgirl as characters aren’t A-list heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are. Also, Walter Hamada reportedly told the New York Times that DC Entertainment would begin releasing four large blockbusters in 2022 and into the foreseeable future. Think of it as their way of trying to beat the Marvel Cinematic Universe at its own game.

In 2021 alone, Marvel Studios will release four films and six television shows to Disney+. That’s 10 projects in the space of 12 months. Given the pandemic, a lot of Marvel’s projects were pushed back due to production shutdowns across the board. The year ahead was already shaping up to be huge, even before delays happened.

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Going back to the Static Shock and Batgirl projects, these characters are much riskier than many of the other characters are. A proper story about the Barbara Gordon variation of Batgirl has never been told on the big screen. The closest we’ve ever gotten is Alicia Silverstone playing a version of the character in 1997’s Batman & Robin but she wasn’t Barbara Gordon. She was Barbara Wilson, the niece of Alfred Pennyworth. The short-lived series Birds of Prey from 2002 was the closest we got to a portrayal of the character. Despite the show being canceled after the first season, it depicted Babs as being Oracle and how she was forced to retire as Batgirl after a run in with the Joker — a likely nod to the Clown Prince of Crime crippling her in The Killing Joke comic story.

Static Shock, better known as simply Static is not as well known as Batgirl and has never had a film made about him. Although, there was animated series in the early 2000s about Virgil Hawkins becoming the titular superhero while exploring important themes such as racism. The show was canceled after four seasons in 2004. The character has appeared in a number of animated projects including the beloved series, Young Justice.

Not much is known about the Static Shock and Batgirl projects

We’re pretty much in the dark about the current status of the Static Shock and Batgirl films.

Batgirl is the one with the most information, as it was announced in 2017 with Joss Whedon having signed on to write and direct the film. However, a lot has changed since then. The director is no longer on board and DC is currently looking for a female director to take Whedon’s place. Also, Birds of Prey scribe Christina Hobson is currently writing the screenplay.

A film called Static Shock was announced in August 2020 during DC Fandome as being produced by Black Panther star, Michael B. Jordan and Reginald Hudlin as being a collaboration between DC Films, Warner Brothers, and Milestone Media.

Outside of this information, there has been no casting and no concrete start date for either of the projects. Hopefully, there will be something soon. As for whether the HBO rumor is true, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Do you think Static Shock and Batgirl will go to HBO Max or would you prefer a cinematic release? Tell us below!