Brendan Fraser says Batgirl should not have been judged on its early test screenings

(Image credit: Leslie Grace/Warner Bros.)

Brendan Fraser shared some more insight into the Batgirl test screening process, as well as his thoughts on its subsequent cancelation. The Whale star, who played Firefly in the HBO Max movie, argued that the movie wasn’t given a fair showing.

Speaking on The Howard Stern show, Fraser revealed he hasn’t seen the movie but has friends and coworkers who had. "They all say really good things about it," he explained. "But the thing about it was it was screened in a garden-variety test screening. It was a director's cut, a first cut, it wasn't finished. I mean, I don't know about you, but I don't eat half-baked cake. I don't want to see something that's not ready yet. The sad thing is that I don't know if it was judged on merit. It wasn't shown in the best light that it could have been. I mean, yes, once you give a film to the people and the world, it's open season to criticize or praise it or whatever you want. But this didn't even really get a fair shake."

Fraser went on to call the decision "disappointing", adding that he’s sad the world won’t get to see Leslie Grace’s performance in the lead role. "Little girls are gonna have to wait longer now before they can see a Batgirl who they can identify that says 'hey she looks just like me too' in Leslie Grace and she was wonderful," he added. "Oh gosh, she was good, really terrific. She's a firecracker. Like dynamite comes in small packages for a reason. She's a dynamo."

For more on DC and its future, check out all of the new superhero movies and upcoming DC movies. For more on Fraser's new movie The Whale, check out our interview with director Darren Aronofsky.

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.