James Gunn Says Margot Robbie May Be Done Playing Harley Quinn, But He Wants the Character in the DCU
Will Margot Robbie ever return as Harley Quinn in James Gunn’s DC Universe? That’s still up in the air, but Gunn has made it clear that the fan-favorite villain has a future in the DCU, whether Robbie returns to play her or not.
During a recent podcast titled The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?, the DC Studios co-head tackled fan questions about which characters and events from his 2021 film The Suicide Squad will carry over into the new DC Universe.
When the conversation turned to Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Gunn explained why bringing her version of the character into the DCU could get complicated, saying: “I think Harley is actually one of the more difficult things in this to justify as being canon in the DCU.”
The issue comes down to Harley’s history with the Joker. Their relationship is an important part of her story, but the DCU hasn’t officially introduced its version of the Clown Prince of Crime. Batman has appeared briefly in the animated series Creature Commandos, but his famous enemy is still unaccounted for.
Of course, there’s also the question of whether Robbie even wants to put the red and blue pigtails back on: “I don’t know if she wants to play Harley again. She may be over that,” Gunn said.
Podcast co-host Jennifer Holland pointed out that Robbie’s career has reached even greater heights since she starred in The Suicide Squad. With so many projects available to her, returning to Harley Quinn might not be something she’s interested in anymore.
Still, Gunn sounds more than willing to make it work if Robbie wants another shot at the character. He said: “I don’t know where Margot’s head is with all of this.
“Harley is a character I’m almost certainly going to use in the DCU, and if Margot wants to play her, then I’ll bend over backwards to explain that in the world. But if she doesn’t, then I might go with somebody else, where I don’t have to be attached to what happens to Harley in this movie.”
Robbie first brought Harley Quinn to the big screen in 2016’s Suicide Squad, returned in 2020’s Birds of Prey, and played the character a third time in Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in 2021.
I've always really liked Robbie as Harley Quinn. She brought a fantastic mix of chaotic energy, humor, and personality to the role, and she was easily one of the best parts of those DC movies. I'd love to see her return, especially with Gunn continuing to develop the new DCU.
At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if she's ready to move on. She's played Harley three times already, and she has plenty of other opportunities to pursue.
What makes this interesting is that Gunn clearly has plans for Harley Quinn regardless of Robbie's involvement. If she decides to walk away, we'll eventually get someone new in the role, and I'd be curious to see what another actress could bring to the character.
For now, nothing has been decided about Robbie's return, but Harley Quinn's future in the DCU looks pretty promising.
Would you rather see Margot Robbie return as Harley Quinn, or are you ready for a new actress to take on the character?