Lawmakers Refer to Batgirl Cancellation to Urge an Investigation into Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

Four US lawmakers, namely Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. David Cicilline, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, are urging Attorney General Merrick Garland and DOJ antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter to investigate the 2022 Warner Bros. Discovery merger. They cited the Batgirl cancellation as a reason for the investigation, among other concerns.

According to the lawmakers’ letter, the merger appears to have allowed Warner Bros. Discovery to adopt potentially anticompetitive practices that harm workers and reduce consumer choice. They argue that the merger led to the hollowing out of an iconic American studio, citing Batgirl’s cancellation, which was reportedly deep into post-production and canceled despite consumer outcry.

Batgirl was originally planned as a $70 million film that would go straight to HBO Max, but it was later decided to move the film to theaters, and the budget was increased to $90 million. Unfortunately, the film was eventually canceled.

Aside from Batgirl’s cancellation, the letter also argues that Warner Bros. Discovery has the incentive and ability to eliminate broad swaths of its workforce, leaving workers with fewer choices for employment and advancement. This is evident in the layoffs in the past year, the shutdown of CNN+, and other actions taken by the merged company.

The lawmakers believe that the impact of consolidation on content creators, workers, and consumers is worth investigating, despite the merger taking place on April 8, 2022. It remains to be seen if the DOJ will take any action in response to the lawmakers’ letter.