As we kick off 2020, no time is wasted as we prepare for the first superhero film of the year — Warner Bros’ “Birds of Prey.” And in a new interview with Variety, Margot Robbie and the folks behind the film open up about the team-up flick and why ‘Birds’ is going to give us a superhero film unlike any other.
Christina Hodson, the writer of “Birds of Prey,” explained that Robbie’s goal with the new film is to not only show a side of Harley that we haven’t seen before but to also show a film where badass women hang out and have fun, which isn’t something that is shown often in films, period.
“She really wanted to see Harley with girlfriends, Harley in a girl gang,” said the writer. “Harley is such a naturally sociable character. And I think there was just a general longing to see girls together on screen — women being friends.”
The R-rating that is expected to be given to “Birds of Prey” isn’t as simple as you may believe, especially given the success of adult superhero films like “Deadpool,” “Logan,” and “Joker.” Robbie said that it “took a lot of convincing” for WB to give the OK for the film to carry an R-rating.
Of course, you can’t talk about Harley Quinn without talking about her beau, the Joker. In “Suicide Squad,” we got a glimpse at the relationship between the two characters, with Jared Leto playing the Clown Prince of Crime. But as fans of DC films will tell you, the Joker found in David Ayer’s 2016 film is very, very different than the new version found in the billion-dollar-grossing “Joker.”
Though she didn’t compare the two extensively, Robbie did compliment the “phenomenal job” Joaquin Phoenix did as the title character in “Joker.” She doesn’t say which she prefers but did provide her thoughts as to what the big difference between Leto and Phoenix are in the role.
“I feel like the ‘Joker’ film was much more grounded. Ours is different. It’s heightened,” she said.
And while the Joker was a huge part of “Suicide Squad,” don’t expect to see Leto in “Birds of Prey.” Like at all. The actress told Variety that Leto will not appear as Joker in the film, not even as a cameo.
“Birds of Prey” is expected to arrive in theaters on February 7. Robbie is currently filming her third Harley appearance in James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad,” which is set to arrive in summer 2021.