Take this however you will, fans of Joss Whedon, but the filmmaker has quit the upcoming Batgirl solo film for Warner Bros. which he was set to write and direct.

“Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story,” Whedon told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.

While speaking about DC President Geoff Johns and Warner Bros. Picture Group President Toby Emmerich, Whedon continued:

“I’m grateful to Geoff and Toby and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I…uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed?'”

This announcement comes hot on the tail of a Marvel film breaking all sorts of records, with a notably appropriate writer and director.  Just like how Wonder Woman over at WB set the scale for what their superhero flicks could be, with a female director on a female centric film.

We can’t say we’re sorry to see him go, as the Firefly helmer has recently come under fire as far as his fair treatment of women go. Black Widow in Age of Ultron, anyone?  Or perhaps you’ll recall the letter Whedon’s ex wife released last year, which caused Joss no shortage of coming under fire.  I mean there’s also that HORRIBLE Wonder Woman script he tried to get made.  -whew- we really lucked out with that one, folks.

Perhaps this exit is exactly what the DCEU needs at WB- time to bring in a female writer and/or director to bring Babs to the big screen.  We’ll let you know when anything else is known about who’s coming in to take over, and if/when casting happens.