One in every of Margot Robbie’s DC films virtually performed out very in another way, in response to the actress. It has been virtually two years for the reason that DCEU film timeline got here to an finish, as Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom marked the ultimate installment within the decade-old franchise that started with Zack Snyder’s Man of Metal in 2013.
Whereas the DCEU had a combined reception, one of many fan-favorites from that franchise was Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, as she introduced some of the iconic Batman characters to life in 2016’s Suicide Squad. The Australian actress ended up being again for 2 extra DCEU films, with one in every of them being a direct spinoff for Harley Quinn.
2020’s Birds Of Prey Might Have Had A Very Totally different Batman Villain
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey with pink and teal smoke behind her.jpg
Credit score: Claudette Barius / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Assortment
In 2020, Robbie returned as Harley Quinn and executive-produced Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) whereas serving to deliver one in every of DC’s most iconic groups to the large display. The DCEU installment noticed Robbie’s Suicide Squad character return whereas going up in opposition to Ewan McGregor’s Black Masks, one other well-known Batman foe from the comics.
In a brand new Leisure Weekly interview, Robbie and her fellow A Massive Daring Lovely Journey co-star, Colin Farrell, who performs The Penguin in Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe, talked about their comedian guide roles. Nevertheless, it seems that Birds of Prey virtually had The Penguin as the primary villain, with Robbie revealing the next to Farrell:
Margot Robbie: Did we ever discuss Harley and the Penguin?
Colin Farrell: I do not imagine so. I do not suppose it got here up as soon as. No, we by no means talked about, by no means spoke about it in any respect.
Margot Robbie: We have accomplished a lot speaking, and I do not suppose we have ever [discussed that.] That is so bizarre. The primary draft that Christina [Hodson] wrote of Birds of Prey, the villain was the Penguin.
Colin Farrell: No approach! Actually?
Margot Robbie: After which [director/writer] Matt Reeves stated, ‘Do not use the Penguin. I will use him in my factor,’ And so we swapped it to Black Masks [played by Ewan McGregor].
Colin Farrell: Wow! And the way was her Penguin?
Margot Robbie: [teases that it was] superb.
Colin Farrell: Did you continue to have a replica of [that script]?
Margot Robbie: Yeah, it is in all probability on my pc. You possibly can learn it.
Colin Farrell: Oh, good, I would like to [read it.] That’d be so fascinating.
If The Penguin had been used within the 2020 movie, it would not have been Farrell’s iteration, as The Batman universe exists outdoors any shared DC franchise and is among the Elseworlds properties. It was by no means talked about within the new interview if there have been any actors in consideration for the DCEU’s Oswald Cobblepot.
Birds Of Prey Helped The Batman In A Huge Manner
Whereas it is a shock to listen to that Reeves stepped in to ask that Birds of Prey did not use The Penguin, he did The Batman a significant favor. On condition that Robbie’s spinoff movie did not have the perfect reception, whereas additionally struggling on the field workplace, Reeves’ 2022 undertaking marked the primary time since 1992’s Batman Returns to characteristic the well-known baddie once more.
If the characterization of The Penguin in Birds of Prey had been criticized, it is doable some followers would not have been too desirous to catch Farrell’s model as a part of The Batman solid. Given the large confusion that existed on the time with basic viewers members about what was or wasn’t related to the DCEU, Reeves made the proper name.
With Farrell’s tackle Oz Cobb, Reeves’ actions paid off large time, because the actor ended up additionally starring in his personal spinoff sequence, and is about to return in The Batman 2. After the modifications made to Birds of Prey, time will inform if new variations of Harley Quinn and The Penguin will get an opportunity to cross paths in James Gunn’s DC Universe.
