Between Marvel and DC Comics, 15 superhero films have been released over the last eight years, and only now are females being featured in the lead role. A Patty Jenkins-helmed Wonder Woman film is due out next year from DC Comics, while Marvel has promised a Captain Marvel movie for 2019. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, DC Comics is moving forward with plans for a female ensemble superhero film.
Margot Robbie, who plays Harley Quinn in the forthcoming Suicide Squad movie, is attached to reprise the role in the as-yet-uannounced project. While many details are being closely guarded, THR notes that Quinn will appear on screen alongside other female heroes and villains, with Batgirl and Birds of Prey among the names being mentioned. (The Birds of Prey began as a trio featuring Huntress, Black Canary, and a paralyzed Batgirl going by Oracle, though the lineup has most recently included Batgirl, Poison Ivy, Katana, an undead assassin named Strix, the traitor Starling, and even a male character, Condor.) The film’s script is also being written by a woman, whose identity is not yet known.
Beyond her on-screen role, Robbie will also serve as an executive producer, and even brought on the film’s writer. As THR explains:
“Sources say that Robbie was the impetus for the project, adding that when she got the part for [Suicide Squad], she dove deep into the comics to learn as much as possible on the character. In the process, she fell for DC’s female characters. She brought on the writer to help develop the project and brought it to Warner Bros., which snapped it up.”
Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, you can check out Robbie in Suicide Squad beginning August 5th.
On a side note, given Shane Black’s comments about Marvel executives nixing a female villain in Iron Man 3, I can’t imagine the timing of DC’s announcement was unintentional.
