Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn spinoff movie is one step closer to starting production—DC just tapped director Cathy Yan to lead the project.
Yan joins the DC Universe after debuting her first feature, Dead Pigs, at Sundance in January. She's a former Wall Street Journal reporter and makes history as the first Asian woman to direct a movie based on a DC Comics property, Variety reports. Last year, Patty Jenkins became the first woman to direct a DC film with Wonder Woman, and Ava DuVernay recently signed on to direct the upcoming New Gods film.
The Harley Quinn movie will be based on the Birds of Prey comic and will focus on Harley Quinn and the members of her girl gang. It's rumored Poison Ivy and Black Canary will make appearances, though no characters have been confirmed yet.
Christina Hodson, who wrote Shut In, Unforgettable, and Bumblee: The Movie, is currently writing the script for the film, according to Variety, and will reportedly also write the upcoming DC Batgirl film now that Joss Whedon has departed.
Apparently, Robbie was firm about wanting female talent attached to the Harley Quinn movie, especially as her production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, is producing the project. According to The Independent, Robbie 'stood fast in her desire to get a woman in the director’s chair for the project.'
Robbie is also expected to reprise her role in the Suicide Squad sequel, which is also scheduled to start filming later in 2018.
Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.
