Margot Robbie may not return as Harley Quinn in the extended DC Universe, a role she has made famous through her portrayal in three films—’Suicide Squad’, ‘The Suicide Squad’, and ‘Birds of Prey’. While Robbie brought Harley to life with her unique take on the beloved supervillain, she appears ready to move on from the character as the DC Universe undergoes significant changes.
The rebooting of the Batman franchise will see new actors stepping into both hero and villain roles, making it challenging to replace Robbie, who first brought Harley to the big screen. However, Robbie believes the possibilities for the character are limitless, and she is open to passing the torch.
Image Courtesy: The Direct
In a recent interview the ‘Barbie’ star hinted at possibly “hanging up Harley’s bat.” With Lady Gaga taking on the role in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, Robbie feels it may be time to move forward. “Harley’s so fun and can go in so many different directions. You put her in someone else’s hands, and it’s like, ‘What are they going to do with her?’ The options are endless,” she said.
Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn in the Joker sequel, alongside Joaquin Phoenix, brings a more grounded, real-life interpretation of the character. In this version, Harley is not the Joker’s therapist but rather a fellow patient at Arkham Asylum, transforming their relationship into one built on mutual desires for love.
Image Courtesy: The Direct
Reflecting on iconic male characters like Batman and Superman, Robbie shared her hopes that Harley would become a character passed on to other actresses. “I always wanted Harley to be a character that would get passed on, like so many iconic male characters. That was always the dream for her,” she noted.
Following Robbie’s last appearance as Harley Quinn, the future of her role in the DC Universe remains uncertain, especially after the mixed reception of recent DC films like ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, ‘Black Adam’, and ‘Shazam’! Fury of the Gods.
-Sushmita Sarkar