Birds of Prey: Margot Robbie reveals ridiculous new title, plus everything you need to know about the Harley Quinn spin-off

Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell will star in Birds of Prey
Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell will star in Birds of Prey

Forget the Spice Girls, the women of Birds of Prey, one of Warner Bros's in-the-works DCEU (DC Expanded Universe) films, bring a superhero twist to the meaning of 'girl power' and women supporting one another.  

Below is a quick drive-by of what we know so far about the film, to be updated when new information is announced: 

What is the film's full title?

On November 20, Margot Robbie shared a picture of the script's title-page on Instagram – with an unexpected subtitle scrawled in alongside a lipstick kiss:

 "Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn")

Fans were quick to assume that the handwritten addition was just a bit of leg-pulling from Robbie, but the Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that this is indeed the film's official title.

What is Birds of Prey about?

While the official synopsis has yet to be released, the speculated premise is after breaking up with the Joker, Harley Quinn teams up with three other female superheroes, the Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya, to save the life of a little girl (Cassandra Cain) from Gotham City crime lord, Black Mask.

After the release of Suicide Squad, Robbie spearheaded the development of a female-centric DCEU film. She told Collider in an interview "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."

Robbie has confirmed principal photography will begin in January 2019.

What is Birds of Prey’s history in DC Comics?

Birds of Prey began in 1999 and comprises several comic series, miniseries and special editions. While the original premise focused on the partnership and friendship between superheroines Black Canary and Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl who at the time adopted the codename Oracle, it soon expanded to include additional crime fighters to its roster.

Birds of Prey (2007), written by Gail Simone - Credit: DC Comics
Birds of Prey (2007), written by Gail Simone Credit: DC Comics

The team consists of Oracle and Black Canary, with others such as Catwoman and Big Barda forming a rotating roster, with the Huntress becoming a core member. The series’s most well known era was written by Gail Simone, from 2003-2007, who has also written for the Wonder Woman, Secret Six and Batgirl comic series.

Who is directing the film?
Cathy Yan, director of Birds of Prey - Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images Entertainment
Cathy Yan, director of Birds of Prey Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images Entertainment

Cathy Yan will direct Birds of Prey. Yan made her feature film debut at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival with Dead Pigs, which won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting. The Chinese-American director will make history as the first Asian American woman to direct a major superhero film and will be only the second woman to direct a film based on a DC Comics property, following Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins.

Who's in the cast?

Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

Robbie will return to the DCEU as Harley Quinn, the former bonefide of the Joker, who has now struck out on her own. While Harley Quinn has never been a member of the Birds of Prey in the comics, morally grey anti-heroes such as Catwoman and Poison Ivy have been a part of the team, providing precedent for the cheerful villainess-turned-hero(ish) to be part of Birds of Prey.  Robbie was by far one of the very few brights spots of Suicide Squad as Harley, who is a fan favourite and currently headlines her own comic series.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead will play The Huntress

Mary Elizabeth Winstead will portray The Huntress.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead will portray The Huntress.

Winstead, known for starring in Scott Pilgrim vs The World and 10 Cloverfield Lane, will play the The Huntress, a superheroine who has appeared in several different iterations in the DC comics. The most well known version of Huntress is Helena Bertinelli, a former ‘mafia princess’ whose family was killed in a mob hit, whom Winstead will be portraying.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell will play Black Canary

Jurnee Smollett-Bell will portray Black Canary
Jurnee Smollett-Bell will portray Black Canary

Smollett-Bell, who starred in television series Friday Night Lights and Underground, will play Black Canary, aka Dinah Lance, a superheroine and martial artist with a supersonic scream.  

Rosie Perez will play Detective Renee Montoya

Rosie Perez will portay Detective Renee Montoya
Rosie Perez will portay Detective Renee Montoya

Perez, a veteran film and television actress, will play Gotham City police detective Renee Montoya, aka The Question. Montoya often comes into contact with Batman while on the job in the comics.

Ewan McGregor will play Black Mask

Ewan McGregor will portray Black Mask
Ewan McGregor will portray Black Mask

The Scottish actor will play the film’s supervillain Black Mask, aka Roman Sionis, a brutal and vicious Gotham City mobster known for his sadistic penchant for torture and signature skull-like disguise. Black Mask in the comics has fought against Batman and thief Catwoman, and is part of Batman’s rogues gallery.

Chris Messina will play Victor Zsasz

Chris Messina will portray Victor Zsasz
Chris Messina will portray Victor Zsasz

Messina has signed on to play another Gotham City baddie, Victor Zsasz, who is working with Black Mask. Zsasz is another of Batman's rogues and a sadistic serial killer who carves a tally mark on to his body each time he lays claim to a victim.

Ella Jay Basco will play Cassandra Cain

Ella Jay Basco will portray Cassandra Cain
Ella Jay Basco will portray Cassandra Cain

ReBasco, who has had small roles on Grey's Anatomy, Superior Donuts and Veep, will play Cassandra Cain, who in the comics is the third person to take on the mantle of Batgirl. It had been rumored Cain would be in Birds of Prey, as Yan had stated at the U.S.-China Entertainment Summit that Birds of Prey would feature a half-Asian character, which people had assumed would be Cassandra Cain.

Who is writing the film?
Christina Hodson, writer of Birds of Prey - Credit: Empire
Christina Hodson, writer of Birds of Prey Credit: Empire

Christina Hodson will write the screenplay. She is best known for writing the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee, which will be released December 26, 2018, and recently signed on to write the DCEU’s Batgirl film after Joss Whedonstepped downn from the project.

What role will the film play in Warner Bros DC Extended Universe?
Justice League - Credit: Warner Bros
Justice League Credit: Warner Bros

The DCEU has been in a state of flux after the critical and commercial disappointment of Justice League (2017). However, the upcoming Aquaman, Shazam!, and Wonder Woman 1984 appear to be a course correction from the doom-and-gloom that characterised most of the DCEU's films, while Warner Bros has been taking their time with the DCEU films currently in development, including The Flash and The Batman.

When will the film be released? What rating will it have?

Birds of Prey will be released February 7, 2020. Yan has confirmed the film is aiming to have an R rating, the equivalent to a 15 rating in the UK.