Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson discussed the upcoming Margot Robbie film’s connection to 2016’s Suicide Squad.
Margot Robbie made her first appearance as Harley Quinn in director David Ayer’s supervillain team-up film Suicide Squad. While the film was a box office success, critics were generally harsh towards Suicide Squad upon its release.
Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn, on the other hand, was praised as one of the highlights of Suicide Squad and the actress is set to reprise the role in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). However, screenwriter Christina Hodson explained that she approached Margot Robbie’s Birds of Prey as its own story rather than a sequel to Suicide Squad:
“Obviously, yes, it’s a character we have met before, but it’s really its own story, and that’s kind of how I approached it. I just tried to take myself off-leash. I fell in love with this character, and then all of these other new characters. And I just created a brand new story that felt like its own thing, and that doesn’t have to feel like it follows one or the other.”
While Birds of Prey may not be regarded as a sequel to Suicide Squad, the latter franchise will continue with a fresh take from writer and director James Gunn. However, the filmmakers are being coy on whether or not The Suicide Squad is a sequel or reboot to its predecessor.
Full details on the Birds of Prey plot are currently unknown, though the film is said to center on Huntress, Black Canary, and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn joining forces to protect Cassandra Cain when she comes into the possession of a diamond belonging to a criminal kingpin known as Black Mask.
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: Total Film (via Digital Spy)
