Harley Quinn has always been a popular character. But recent years have catapulted her to superstar status. She’s had her own solo title for ages. She’s was a main character, and fan favorite, in last year’s Suicide Squad. And now there’s a Harley Quinn animated series on the way, coming to DC’s new streaming service. Alongside Harley is the upcoming third season of Young Justice, as well as the live-action Titans series.
Whether DC has other shows in the works for the service is unknown, but the lineup so far looks fairly star-studded. Of course, there’s also the question of whether any older DC properties will pop up on the service. DC has produced no shortage of beloved small-screen work, including Smallville, Teen Titans, and the entirety of the DC Animated Universe.
As for Miss Quinn, the series is aiming to focus solely on Harley, and not her relationship with The Joker. In fact, an official synopsis of the project says the following.
“Harley Quinn, who has finally broken things off with the Joker, attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City.”
It’s certainly an interesting take on the character. Harley has detached herself from Joker before. Though not always by choice. Still, this does raise a number of questions. For example, wherein the competence zone will Harley fall in this series? Will she manage to be an actual effective crime boss ala Breaking Bad? The series is being pushed as an “adult comedy.” Will it play things purely in the outrageous nature of her solo title? There’s plenty to consider.
WB is reportedly looking to get Margot Robbie to reprise the role (albeit in voice only). Though one could argue that that may not be a remarkable idea. Not because she’d do a bad job, but because it could be bad having one actor hold a monopoly on a role. Robert Downey Jr., for example, doesn’t play Tony Stark in Marvel’s animated work. And Kevin Conroy has never played Batman outside of (most) animated projects and (most) video games. And while there are other reasons as to why they didn’t do that in their cases, for certain, the point still stands that there’s a wide variety of voice talent out there that could be just as good, if not better for the role.
Harley Quinn now makes her way full circle. Introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, she became a tremendously popular character. That popularity saw her make the jump to comics very quickly. She eventually began to pop up in other works, such as the acclaimed Batman Arkham series of video games, as well as the Batman: Assault on Arkham animated film (the good Suicide Squad movie, for those unaware). She’s also getting one or two spin-off movies from last year’s Suicide Squad. She’s been busy. However, she very recently appeared in the… divisive Batman & Harley Quinn animated movie. So this does come at a very awkward time.
WB and DC have plenty of time to iron things out, regardless. Aside from the thought of Robbie’s casting, there are very few details. The project is being written and executive produced by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey of WB-Animation. It’s up for 26 episodes, but no premiere date has been confirmed at this time.