Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon has stepped down from writing and directing the proposed Batgirl movie.

Whedon, 53, today confirmed he was walking away from the Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment project, admitting: “Batgirl is such an exciting project that it took me months to realise I really didn’t have a story.”

His departure follows reports studio bosses are looking to hire more female directors.

In a statement, Mr Whedon, who also wrote and directed 2012’s The Avengers and 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, thanked DC president Geoff Johns and Warner Bros Pictures Group president Toby Emmerich, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “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’?”

Insiders told the publication while Whedon was struggling with the story, the suitability of having a male in charge of a film about a female comic book icon was also questioned.

It comes in light of recent Hollywood female empowerment campaigns such as the Me Too movement.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Premiere 11 show all Avengers: Age of Ultron Premiere 1/11 Kiss me, quick Chris Hemsworth put on an amorous display with his wife Elsa Pataky (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) 2/11 Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan cosied up on the red carpet (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) 3/11 Designer look Scarlett Johansson in Stella McCartney (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 4/11 Elegance Elizabeth Olsen cut an elegant figure in a cream and navy maxi dress as she worked the red carpet (Picture: Mark Davis/Getty Images) 5/11 Say cheese Scarlett made sure to entertain fans who had waited hours on the red carpet (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 6/11 In support Mark Ruffalo was joined by his wife Sunrise Coigney (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 7/11 Goofing around US actor and cast member Lou Ferrigno (R) pretends to fight with US executive producer Stan Lee (Picture: EPA/Nina Prommer) 8/11 Suited up Cast members Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Evans (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 9/11 Date night Sam Taylor-Johnson with her actor husband Aaron (Picture: Mark Davis/Getty Images) 10/11 Super fans Fans lined the red carpet hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 11/11 Work it Scarlett turned heads in her designer dress (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Getty Images 1/11 Kiss me, quick Chris Hemsworth put on an amorous display with his wife Elsa Pataky (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) 2/11 Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan cosied up on the red carpet (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) 3/11 Designer look Scarlett Johansson in Stella McCartney (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 4/11 Elegance Elizabeth Olsen cut an elegant figure in a cream and navy maxi dress as she worked the red carpet (Picture: Mark Davis/Getty Images) 5/11 Say cheese Scarlett made sure to entertain fans who had waited hours on the red carpet (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 6/11 In support Mark Ruffalo was joined by his wife Sunrise Coigney (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 7/11 Goofing around US actor and cast member Lou Ferrigno (R) pretends to fight with US executive producer Stan Lee (Picture: EPA/Nina Prommer) 8/11 Suited up Cast members Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Evans (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 9/11 Date night Sam Taylor-Johnson with her actor husband Aaron (Picture: Mark Davis/Getty Images) 10/11 Super fans Fans lined the red carpet hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars (Picture: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni) 11/11 Work it Scarlett turned heads in her designer dress (Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Getty Images

Batgirl is a character from the hugely popular Batman storyline. In the comics, she is Barbara Gordon — the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon. She first appeared in DC Comics in 1967 in “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!” by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino.

It is not yet known whether the Batgirl project will continue without Whedon.

Batgirl would be the second movie from DC Films to star a female lead following Wonder Woman — one of the biggest box office hits of 2017.

A Wonder Woman sequel again starring Gal Gadot, with director Patty Jenkins also returning to the project, is set for release in 2019.