The DC live-action universe seems to have found its stride over recent years, abandoning crossover-heavy projects for solo flicks like Shazam! and Aquaman. Both of those movies fared well critically, although the next movie in the DCEU will be an ensemble project: Cathy Yan's Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The movie will feature the femme fatales of Gotham City, including the long-awaited return of Margot Robbie's Harley.
Moviegoers have been eager for any and all footage of Birds of Prey, but the upcoming blockbuster's marketing proving surprising so far. A screen test of the cast in costume is the only real footage made available to the public thus far. The exception is a teaser than accompanied the release of IT Chapter Two, but was never got a wide release online. Now a bonkers poster has arrived, showing the best look at the cast in costume. Check it out below.
Well, that's pretty brilliant. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) looks like its going to be a quirky take on the superhero genre. And if this poster is any indication, Margot Robbie's signature villain is going to be on a world of her own throughout the upcoming blockbuster.
Harley Quinn is front and center for the poster, taking up more of the space than any of the other characters. While this might be an indication for screen time in Cathy Yan's DC debut, it also helps to tease that the story is both a new narrative, and spinoff for the Suicide Squad standout. Margot Robbie will play the character a third time in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, so DC and Warner Bros. are clearly putting a lot of stock into Harley.
Cathy Yan assembled a killer cast for Birds of Prey, bringing Gotham City icons to the big screen for the first time in the process. The characters are all given cartoonish wings, highlighting the delightful mess that is Harley's brain. But their costumes are all in full display, showing off the modern design of the female-driven blockbuster. Huntress and Black Canary are shown in outfits that are less cotume-y than we've seen in the DCEU before. Ewan McGregor doesn't have his signature Black Mask, but he's shown rocking the character's signature white suit.
Also featured in the poster are Chris Messina's Victor Zsasz, Rosie Perez's Renee Montoya, and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain. Zsasz is shown in his pre-scar form, with Birds of Prey likely serving as an origin story for the iconic Batman rogue. Cassandra Cain is a young girl in the upcoming movie, but comic book fans know her fate as the future Batwoman.
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It should be interesting to see how Harley's story factors into the film's larger narrative, and show she connects the villains and heroes of the story. She's someone who can pivot to both sides of the narrative, interacting with Gotham criminals like Black Mask and Zsasz as well as the film's heroines. Harley's empathy was shown in Suicide Squad, although The Joker's influence proved too strong. But if she gains her independence as Birds of Prey's title suggests, she could go seemingly anywhere in the story.
Our questions will be answered when Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) hits theaters February 7th 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
