David Ayer brought the Suicide Squad from the comics to theaters last year, and while the Squad's movie wasn't a critical powerhouse, it was a resounding financial success for Warner Bros and DC. But rather than stick with the team and direct Suicide Squad 2, last December it was announced that Ayer would shift gears and instead helm Gotham City Sirens, which will follow Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn teaming up with Poison Ivy and Catwoman. More than half a year later, Ayer has explained why he decided to oversee Gotham City Sirens instead of Suicide Squad 2, saying:
It's a story about three fantastic women who're trying to find their way in the world, and realize that they have more power together than they do individually. I have daughters, and I want to create something that might be able to help them get along in the world a little bit.
During San Diego Comic-Con, David Ayer shed light on why he jumped onto Gotham City Sirens as his next DCEU project. Having already left his mark on the Suicide Squad in live action, it was the appeal of highlighting Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman in a movie where they are the protagonists rather than the bad guys, as well as the opportunity to give his daughters a story that they can appreciate. While the explanation is undoubtedly welcome for DC fans who've questioned why Ayer didn't stick around for Suicide Squad 2, the director was unwilling to provide any specific details about Gotham City Sirens. When asked by IGN whether Margot Robbie would wear a different Harley Quinn costume in the spinoff, he didn't confirm or deny that, instead just teasing, "Everybody evolves."
Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman are not only A-listers in Batman's rogues gallery, but they're also among the most well known villains in the entire DC universe. They've each enhanced the Batman mythos in their own way, but from 2009 to 2011 in the comics, they banded together as the Gotham City Sirens. The New 52 relaunch cut that iteration of the trio short, but we'll see how their DCEU incarnations fare together while potentially fighting Black Mask. Harley Quinn debuted last year in Suicide Squad, where we saw Harleen Qunizel not only be forced into Amanda Waller's Task Force X, but also how she became enamored with The Joker. Harley was last seen being broken out of Belle Reve by the Clown Prince of Crime, though it remains to be seen if she'll next be hanging out with her gal pals in Gotham City Sirens or if she'll be caught and recruited into another dangerous mission in Suicide Squad 2.
While we wait for more Gotham City Sirens news, you can see David Ayer's next movie, Bright, on Netflix starting December 22. As for Suicide Squad 2, The Shallows' Jaume Collet-Serra is reportedly the frontrunner to succeed Ayer as director.
