DC Comics characters 'Huntress' and 'Black Canary' have now been cast alongside Margot Robbie ("Suicide Squad") as 'Harley Quinn' in director Cathy Yan's upcoming 'girl gang' live-action, R-rated feature "Birds of Prey", opening February 2020:
Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead has been cast as 'Huntress'...
...and Jurnee Smollett-Bell will play 'Black Canary'.
"I pitched the idea of an 'R-rated' girl gang film including 'Harley', because I was like, 'Harley needs friends' Harley loves interacting with people so don't ever make her do a standalone film," said Robbie....
"She’s got to be with other people, it should be a girl gang. I wasn't seeing enough girl gangs on screen, especially in the action space...
"And then of course having a female director to tell that story. And giving a female director the chance to do big budget stuff.
"I love action films. I’m a girl. What, are we meant to only like a specific thing’?” So it was a hugely important to find a female director for this, if possible.
"But at the end of the day — male, female — the best director gets the job and Cathy was the best director."
Robbie's LuckyChap produces with Sue Kroll, Kroll & Co Entertainment and Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures.
The original premise of "Birds of Prey", was a partnership between 'Black Canary' and 'Barbara Gordon', aka codename 'Oracle'.
Harley Quinn, played by Mia Sara also appeared in the TV series "Birds of Prey".