Action movies are what Brendan Fraser is best known for, and he was supposed to make a triumphant return to them in 2022 with the release of DC's "Batgirl." When he was cast, Variety reported that he'd be playing the villainous Firefly, a vengeful and nihilistic pyromaniac. CBR mentions how he describes the character Firefly as "a veteran who lost his benefits," who takes to villainy in reaction. While Fraser himself is decidedly un-villainous in real life, it's easy to see how his acting choices may have been informed by his own experiences with financial trouble.
According to the Huffington Post, following his divorce in 2009, Fraser was paying $900,000 annually in child support and alimony. He tried to petition the courts to reduce the payments because of his lack of income. In return, his ex-wife Afton Smith accused him of fraud, claiming he'd hidden $9 million in new film contracts, even as he was losing thousands every month (via TMZ). While certainly not a direct parallel, the experience of feeling financially trapped is certainly one Fraser could have drawn on for the role of Firefly.
Unfortunately, as Variety explains, "Batgirl" was canceled for tax purposes, relegating it to be shelved indefinitely. The decision was deeply disappointing to everyone involved, with Fraser specifically concerned it might hurt his comeback efforts. As ScreenRant mentions, his attitude remained selfless, graciously praising his co-star Leslie Grace even as his return to action movies would remain forever unreleased.
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