As summer season approaches, cinemas are typically packed with back-to-back superhero films. However, there is a possibility that you will never have the chance to see iconic characters such as Batgirl, Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four, and Condorman on the big screen.
Some comic book adaptations have not received much attention and have been kept hidden, while others were never released at all. These three superhero movies may unfortunately never be available for viewing.
Batgirl Movie
Leslie Grace in Batgirl
Despite its status as a story of missed opportunities and corporate avarice, Batgirl stands out as one of the few comic book movies led by a female protagonist. This is evident in the excitement that surrounded its greenlight announcement.
Originally conceived as a Joss Whedon production, the film eventually evolved into a HBO Max exclusive, helmed by screenwriter Christina Hodson and directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. Filming for Batgirl took place in Glasgow in late 2021, with Leslie Grace taking on the titular role and JK Simmons reprising his role as Commissioner Gordon. Additionally, Brendan Fraser joined the cast as the villainous Firefly, while Michael Keaton returned as Batman.
Principal photography for Batgirl was completed on March 31, 2022, shortly before WarnerMedia merged with Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery. During post-production, executives made the decision to release the film theatrically. However, in August 2022, the film was shelved due to a major announcement from the company.
According to media reports, the movie was deemed unsuccessful and did not align with the studio’s overall vision. In a statement, WBD explained that the decision to not release Batgirl was a result of a strategic shift in their approach to the DC universe and HBO Max. They emphasized that Leslie Grace, the lead actor, is highly talented and the decision does not reflect her performance.
However, subsequent updates revealed that Batgirl was ultimately scrapped due to the studio’s desire for a tax break. Warner Bros. believed that using an accounting maneuver would be a more effective way to recoup their costs than investing in the film’s release or selling it to another distributor. In January 2023, DC Studios’ new chief, Peter Safran, solidified the decision to cancel Batgirl, stating that the movie was “not releasable”and would have had a negative impact on both the DC brand and everyone involved.
The Fantastic Four (1993)
In the early 1960s, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby came up with the idea for the Fantastic Four. However, it was not until two decades later that German producer Bernd Eichinger convinced Lee to sell him the movie rights. Despite receiving interest from various studios, Eichinger was unable to successfully produce a film. With the option about to expire, he turned to B-movie legend Roger Corman to create a low-budget adaptation.
The movie was filmed throughout most of January 1993, and followed the origins of the superhero team as they faced off against their arch-nemesis, Doctor Doom. Trailers began airing in theaters shortly after, and the cast promoted the film through interviews and appearances at conventions. A release date of Labor Day was initially announced, but it passed without the movie being released. The world premiere was later rescheduled for January 1994, but the release was unexpectedly and mysteriously canceled.
It is still a highly debated topic as to why The Fantastic Four was shelved. There were rumors circulating at the time that Eichinger’s intention was not to release the movie, but rather to film footage in order to retain the rights to the Fantastic Four. As Stan Lee himself stated in 2005, “That movie was never intended to be shown to anyone.”
Despite Corman and Eichinger denying the accusations, the latter claimed that the cancellation was due to Marvel executive Avi Arad. Marvel was concerned about the potential negative impact of a low-budget adaptation on their own big-budget project, leading them to reportedly purchase and subsequently shelve the film.
Despite efforts to contain them, bootleg copies of Fantastic Four quickly spread, making the entire movie available online for those who search diligently. However, a silver lining emerged from this disaster in the form of the documentary Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s The Fantastic Four, which was eventually released in 2015.
Condorman
Although it was released in 1981 and is currently available for download or purchase, Condorman is not available on Disney+. We have a theory as to why this may be, but it could be seen as a bit of a cheat.
Prior to Condorman, Michael Crawford was already a well-known figure in the UK thanks to his role in the popular sitcom Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. However, following his appearance in Condorman, he rose to international fame by portraying the lead character in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. Yet during this time, Crawford also attempted to establish himself as a movie star in this comedic superhero parody.
The movie features Crawford as Woodrow “Woody” Wilkins, a well-known comic book author known for creating the popular superhero Condorman. However, Woody’s determination to test his character’s gadgets in the real world leads him to construct a flying suit for himself. This ultimately results in him being recruited by the CIA, where he adopts the alias of Condorman. As a result, Woody finds himself facing off against a notorious KGB antagonist named Krokov.
As a child, I thoroughly enjoyed the silly entertainment of Condorman, especially since there were hardly any superhero movies available in the early 1980s besides Superman. When I recently subscribed to Disney+, I was eager to watch Condorman again. However, I was disappointed to find that the film was not available, despite being labeled as a ‘Walt Disney Production.’ Thankfully, I was able to purchase a cheap DVD copy on Amazon and looked forward to reliving my childhood memories.
During the movie, I noticed the issue when our hero puts on brown-face to pass as a sheik during a supposedly humorous scene in Monte Carlo. He then proceeds to use an offensive accent, perpetuating racist stereotypes.
Despite being readily available, Condorman, with its unpleasant content, is unlikely to ever be featured on Disney+ due to its U-rating as a family film.
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