While some have been critical of the seemingly scattered approach to the commissioning of new projects taken by the DC Extended Universe so far, it’s certainly the case that this different method of universe building has generated some potentially interesting plans. One of those would seem to be Harley Quinn vs. The Joker, which now has directing duo (and frequent Margot Robbie collaborators) Glenn Ficarra and John Requa attached.
Billed as a “criminal love story” centred on the iconic comic book pair, the film will focus on their relationship with each other, rather than viewing these characters through the lens of their relationship to Batman. Speaking to Female First UK about her new movie, I, Tonya, Margot Robbie explained her hope for how the spinoff film will see the love story end.
“Their love story has to end in flames! It has to, it just wouldn’t be right. I’m personally a sucker for a love story. In any iteration I think people enjoy seeing two characters who, in Harley and the Joker’s case, would die for one another. It’s kind of romantic in a messed up way.”
Robbie’s assertion here refers to the controversial nature of the Harley Quinn-Joker relationship. Some of the reactions to Suicide Squad – in which Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn made her live-action debut – suggested that any attempt to depict the romance is highly problematic, as it’s always been seen as a situation in which Harley Quinn is the victim of abuse perpetrated by The Joker. This visceral response dates back to the first introduction of the character, which was in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992.
While the comic book source material has indeed seen Harley Quinn liberate herself from the influence of the Clown Prince Of Crime, to become a legendary supervillain in her own right, the DCEU’s previously announced spinoff movie Gotham City Sirens – which was to focus entirely on Harley Quinn and her fellow female villains – seems to have been shoved further down the development queue, in favour of Suicide Squad 2 and Harley Quinn vs. The Joker. The effect of this is to keep Quinn framed within her relationship to Mr J., at least for foreseeable future, on the big screen.
This being the case, Margot Robbie is quite right – Harley Quinn Vs. The Joker has to end in flames. Maybe then we’ll see this popular female character afforded the space to lead her own project, as she richly deserves.
