Ewan McGregor explained the reason behind Black Mask’s hatred towards Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey.
Birds of Prey will introduce multiple newcomers to the DC Extended Universe, including Ewan McGregor as the notorious crime boss known as Black Mask. This particular version of Black Mask will harbor an intense hatred towards Harley Quinn and Ewan McGregor offered insight into the reasons behind the villain’s disdain for the fan-favorite anti-heroine.
During an interview with Gamespot to promote Birds of Prey, Ewan McGregor explained that Black Mask is a villain who feels the need to be in complete control and can become unhinged when he loses any authority. Of course, the chaotic Harley Quinn proves to be one of the few people Black Mask can’t control and Ewan McGregor noted that this truly enrages the crime boss:
“He has to be in absolute control. He’s insane when he’s not in control. We only see him in his club, in his car, in his apartment–or at the end when he’s running around. But really I feel like we only ever see him in places he controls. And then Harley comes into this world and she’s uncontrollable. It drives him mad. He hates it.”
Ewan McGregor elaborated, noting that Black Mask’s feelings towards Harley Quinn play into the misogyny explored in Birds of Prey. As Ewan McGregor explained, Black Mask only ever put up with Harley Quinn because of her association with the Joker and she is proving to be a problem for him now she is single in:
“It plays into the exploration of misogyny in the film. He’s only ever put up with Harley because she was Joker’s girlfriend. So that was the only reason he ever put up with her, because [Joker] was all-powerful. But as soon as [Roman] realizes that Harley’s man is out of the picture, she becomes a problem. That makes him a true misogynist. Harley is trying to find her freedom–the emancipation of Harley Quinn, right? She’s trying to find her voice. She’s not getting her power from her partner anymore.”
Are you excited to see how Harley Quinn can outfox Ewan McGregor’s Black Mask in Birds of Prey? Let us know your thoughts on the dynamic between Black Mask and Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey below!
Here is the official synopsis for Birds of Prey:
“You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.”
Directed by Cathy Yan from a script penned by Bumblebee writer Christina Hodson, Birds of Prey stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz, Ewan McGregor as Black Mask, and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Ali Wong, Robert Catrini, and Michael Masini have also been cast in undisclosed roles.
Birds of Prey will be released in theaters on February 7, 2020.
Source: Gamespot
