James Gunn Keeps Blurring The Line Between His DCU And The DCEU, So It’s Time To Bring This Beloved Actor Back

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Warning: SPOILERS for the Creature Commandos Season 1 finale are ahead!

In the current superhero media landscape, while the DC Extended Universe has been supplanted by the DC Universe as the primary shared continuity, there are still some components of the former that continue to hold significance in this new epoch. For instance, Xolo Maridueña will reprise his role as Blue Beetle in an upcoming DC animated television series. Additionally, the events depicted in both “The Suicide Squad” and “Peacemaker” Season 1 are considered canon, although the infamous Justice League scene may not be easily recalled. These projects were overseen by James Gunn, who has also produced “Creature Commandos,” is set to release a new “Superman” film in summer 2025 as part of the movie schedule, and is currently co-running DC Studios with producer Peter Safran.

As the boundaries between the DC Universe (DCU) and James Gunn’s segment of the DCEU grow increasingly indistinct, the latest instance being King Shark’s appearance in The Suicide Squad, only to later become a member of the Creature Commandos’ main squad – a connection that can be observed by streaming the Season 1 finale with a Max subscription. Given this ongoing convergence, I propose that Margot Robbie reprise her role as Harley Quinn for the DCU at the earliest opportunity.

What We’ve Seen From Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn So Far

Margot Robbie’s journey with Harley Quinn, the lover-turned-antiheroine linked to The Joker, began in 2016’s “Suicide Squad” film. This release was five years after the formation of her association with Task Force X as depicted in the comics during the New 52 era. Despite “Suicide Squad” being a commercial hit, it received mostly negative reviews from critics. However, Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was one of the few aspects that were well-received. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising when she reprised her role in 2020’s “Birds of Prey” and then again in “The Suicide Squad” a year later. She was among four characters from the Suicide Squad who returned for the latter movie, with Captain Boomerang, Amanda Waller, and Rick Flag Jr. being the others.

Initially in “Suicide Squad”, Harley Quinn was depicted as a malevolent figure longing to rejoin The Joker within the DCEU. However, in “Birds of Prey”, she broke free from this toxic relationship with The Joker and embarked on her own journey. In “The Suicide Squad”, there was an indirect reference to their tumultuous bond. By the end of events in Corto Maltese, Harley Quinn was seen departing with Bloodsport, Ratcatcher II, and King Shark, the sole other members of Task Force X who survived.

Margot Robbie Deserves A Lot More Time To Shine As Harley Quinn

In three films, Margot Robbie has embodied Harley Quinn – a role that many actors rarely get to keep for such an extended period. Given the overwhelmingly positive reception of her portrayal of this beloved DC Comics character from 2016 to 2021 and James Gunn’s enthusiasm for reusing characters from his earlier DC projects, it feels just right that she should be allowed to carry on playing Harley within the DC Universe. If audiences enjoyed her interpretation so much, wouldn’t it make sense to provide them with even more of it?

To clarify, Harley Quinn had been a well-known DC character for quite some time before the release of Suicide Squad in 2016, as she was first portrayed by Arleen Sorkin in Batman: The Animated Series. However, it would be naive to deny that Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley in the movie and subsequent appearances didn’t significantly boost the character’s popularity. If Viola Davis and John Cena can continue playing Amanda Waller and Peacemaker respectively, then it seems fitting for Margot Robbie’s Harley to join their ranks as well.

It Would Be Easy Enough To Fit Harley Quinn Into The DCU Timeline

As a film enthusiast, I’ve been pondering the DC Universe and its connections to the DC Extended Universe. With Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle being the exception, the characters from James Gunn-led projects seem to be the only ones carrying over. So, in essence, my understanding is that Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn has made her “canon” appearance within the DC Universe exclusively in The Suicide Squad. I’m quite content with this arrangement, as it allows me to distance myself from the original Suicide Squad, though I do hope for the release of the Ayer Cut someday. While I enjoyed Birds of Prey more, I don’t feel compelled enough to advocate for its events to shape Harley Quinn’s backstory in the DCU.

Among the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films, The Suicide Squad stands out as one of my favorites. This implies that Harley Quinn, in the broader DC Universe (DCU), has a largely open canvas to explore. It’s crucial to remember that she had a romantic past with The Joker and participated in several Task Force X missions. Beyond these points, there’s a lot of creative freedom for how her character can be developed. Personally, I would love to see Harley Quinn make an appearance in a Batman-focused project such as The Brave and the Bold or the Mike Flanagan-scripted Clayface movie.

Margot Robbie Is A Bigger Draw Than Ever

Initially, Margot Robbie gained global recognition through her role in “The Wolf of Wall Street”, but her portrayal of Harley Quinn solidified her as a major figure in Hollywood. Fast-forwarding nine years, Robbie is now a two-time Academy Award-nominated actress who’s made an impact in films like “I, Tonya”, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Bombshell”, and “Barbie”, where she also served as producer. Today, she’s one of Tinsel Town’s top attractions. Given her past success, it would be unwise for DC not to bring her back into the fold, especially since there seems to be a clear path for her return. Yes, she’ll command a higher salary, but the investment will be worth it to give fans more of what they loved from the DCEU.

2025 is underway, and I’m not hoping for Margot Robbie to make an appearance in the DC Universe this year since Superman and Peacemaker Season 2 have already been filmed. However, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we might hear something this year about her returning as Harley Quinn. For now, I can enjoy rewatching her past portrayals of the character on Max while I work my way through the DC movies in sequence.

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2025-01-11 17:37