At present, DC Comics has 2 films coming out in 2019 via SHAZAM! and the Joker film, and then 2 films coming out in 2020 via Wonder Woman 1984 and Birds of Prey. The latter film is going to feature a team-up between Harley Quinn, Black Canary, Huntress, Cassandra Cain, Rene Montoya, and possibly someone else if rumors are to be believed. However, as Margot Robbie (who is helping produce the film) has revealed, the movie hasn’t revealed its “full title”, so she took the liberty of doing so.
On her Instagram, which has been posted on Twitter via numerous sources including The Hollywood Reporter, the film is now going to be called “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn”.
Margot Robbie, who plays #HarleyQuinn within the #DCEU, just posted this pic of the script for the #SuicideSquad / Harley Quinn spin-off film Birds of Prey! 😍♦️💋 pic.twitter.com/OGT2CXHLyg
— Darknight Archivist ✌🏼💙🦇 (@HistoftheBatman) November 20, 2018
Confused? Let me explain, this film is likely going to showcase Harley Quinn breaking away from the Joker and his influence to strike out on her own, which will lead to her meeting the rest of BOP.
Now, while some might think of this as a meaningless showcase of Robbie’s character, or even grandstanding, there’s a few things we need to think about here. 1) Outside of the comic community (and a very poor live-action adaptation on TV), the Birds of Prey have never been a big thing. The most popular runs of the group was via Gail Simone. And while a return to form is happening now in DC Comics, it’s still a “cult/fan-favorite” group rather than a “big name” group like the Avengers, Justice League, Defenders, etc. It’s the same with the Suicide Squad film, only comic readers really knew who they were, which is why they emphasized the inclusion of Harley Quinn and Joker into the film.
2) By adding Harley as a focal point to the title, people both knowing and casual can get at least a little idea of what is going on. Not to mention, of the team, Harley Quinn is the most “known” member, with Black Canary being second thanks to her appearances in the Justice League cartoon, Batman The Brave and the Bold and Arrow.
3) And arguably most important, it adds a little levity to the title, which is another way of Warner Bros embracing the “non-super serious/dark” way that the DCEU had started their run.
Either way, Birds of Prey is shaping up to be something special when it launches on February 7th, 2020.