Birds Of Prey Movie Officially Gets February 2020 Release Date

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Ever since Marvel’s The Avengers earned widespread critical praise and $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office, shared cinematic universes have become the norm in Hollywood. Studios are constantly looking for ways to maximize their tentpole properties, and that includes producing spinoff films in between installments of the core series. Paramount will try their hand at this in 2018, when a Transformers movie focusing on fan-favorite character Bumblebee is released in theaters. That project is seen as a more cost-effective entry in the franchise – relatively speaking, of course.
Bumblebee was penned by newcomer Christina Hodson, whose previous credits include this fall’s Shut In. She has also made the Black List (a collection of the best unmade screenplays) three times in her career, so she potentially is a star on the rise. After impressing Paramount executives with her work on Bumblebee, Hodson will soon turn her attention to another massive series: the DC Extended Universe.


Per The Wrap, Hodson is in line to pen a Birds of Prey film for Warner Bros – a project that has been rumored since late last year. It is said that the movie will feature multiple female superheroes (and probably villains) in the DC Universe. Margot Robbie, who stole the show as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad this summer, is on-board to reprise the role and produce. The assumption is that Birds of Prey will take the spot of the oft-rumored Harley Quinn standalone movie. It will be fascinating to see which characters are part of the team, and who is cast in the parts. DC has thus far attracted top-notch thespians to their movies, so they should be able to land some more A-listers.



In its early stages, the DCEU has delivered a trio of divisive films that have been heavily criticized by fans for their stories. The notion of a Transformers scribe coming over to work in the DC world may make some viewers feel uneasy, given that Transformers has never been much of a critical darling. Still, it’s important to give Hodson a chance to prove herself. Her time as a screenwriter is just getting started, and the argument can be made that the Transformers series could use a new voice to mix things up. That she’s been featured on the Black List multiple times is a testament to her talent, so it’s clear she has the ability to craft a compelling narrative. Bumblebee could end up being a fun, entertaining romp. Time will tell.
Moviegoers will get a better idea of what to expect out of the Transformers spinoff when a director is announced, but it’s encouraging that the film’s writer is on the uprise, getting work for high-profile projects. Something about Hodson’s work is appealing to the studio bosses, and it should be interesting to watch her career evolve overtime. Hollywood is making strides to diversify in front of and behind the camera, so hopefully Hodson can be highly successful.


Source: The Wrap

 

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I'm excited for this movie

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Movie Reportedly Currently Looking For A Director[/h]

Warner Bros. is on the hunt for a director for Birds of Prey thanks to a well-received script. The biggest success the DC movie universe has found is in Wonder Woman, so it’s no surprise to see them lining up multiple female-led projects. Margot Robbie has several possible films to reprise her role as Harley Quinn, while Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman 2 is gearing up to start filming. One of the projects that Robbie could’ve next appeared in was Birds of Prey, a movie that named Christina Hodson as a writer in late 2016.
Even though updates on Birds of Prey have been scarce, the studio was clearly happy with Hodson’s work. She was just hired to rewrite Batgirl, after previously spending time with Barbara Gordon during the process of writing Birds of Prey. Not only is the film very much still in development, but it appears WB is looking to name a director.






The Wrap shared this detail on Birds of Prey when discussing Hodson’s addition to Batgirl. According to The Wrap, WB is “high” on Hodson’s script for Birds of Prey and is currently looking to find a director. There’s unfortunately no word on when such an announcement could be made, or even who they are looking at.



This is a rather big update for Birds of Prey as it wasn’t too long ago many wondered if the movie was even still on the table. This report indicates it most certainly is, and that it could be a big part of DC’s slate. Hodson’s script included Batgirl and Harley Quinn, so this could be WB’s attempt to make an all-female superhero team up movie – possibly beating Marvel to the punch.
However, the hunt for a director doesn’t necessarily mean that Birds of Prey will be made anytime soon. WB has hired a number of directors for countless DC related movies, and several of them are still in development. In fact, if Birds of Prey does land a director anytime soon, it will be the fourth possible Harley Quinn movie to have a director attached. Gotham City Sirens has David Ayer, Harley vs The Joker has Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, and Suicide Squad 2 has Gavin O’Connor. But, with Birds of Prey being the only project with a female writer, maybe it’ll be the lone one to get a female director (and an official green light), too.

Birds of Prey is reportedly in development but does not have a release date.​

Source: The Wrap

 

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[h=1]DC’s Birds of Prey Movie With Harley Quinn Gets a Director[/h]

DC and Warner Bros.’ Birds of Prey movie is about to make superhero history with its choice for director. Cathy Yan is about to close a deal to helm the DCEU film. Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn has also now been confirmed to appear in the movie.
It has long been rumored that Robbie’s Harley Quinn would appear in Birds of Prey, but the DCEU’s roadmap has been convoluted, especially in conjunction with Harley and the Joker. The two have been rumored and confirmed for a slew of different movies, leading to a fair amount of confusion for fans of the franchise. However, it now appears that Birds of Prey will serve as Harley’s next appearance following 2016’s Suicide Squad.






The Wrap is confirming that Yan is essentially locked in to direct the Birds of Prey film now. This is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. Yan is only the second woman to helm a DCEU film after Wonder Woman‘s Patty Jenkins. Yan will also be the first Asian-American director to head up a DCEU film. These progressive firsts, along with the focus on Harley Quinn and the women of DC Comics, could give this film an edge when it comes to box office results. Along with Yan, Bumblebee writer Christina Hodson is handling the film’s script.



It’s difficult to say exactly how this film will fit into the DCEU. It’s long been rumored that both Black Canary and Poison Ivy will make their DCEU debuts in the film, with Batgirl also appearing in some capacity. For a while, it seemed as though David Ayer’s Gotham City Sirens would be the DCEU movie to introduce Harley and Poison Ivy’s friendship from the comics to the franchise. With that film now stuck in development limbo, it’s plausible the honor will go to Birds of Prey instead.
With Harley now set to appear in Birds of Prey, it’s also possible that the Sirens will face off against Batgirl and Black Canary in the film. Then again, given Harley’s sometimes good, often bad status, she could just as well be an anti-hero as a villain in the movie. The Birds of Prey could even find themselves reluctantly teaming up with a somewhat reformed Harley in the film… or the opposite of that. Hopefully, we will gain more insight on that front as Birds of Prey continues to make its way down the pipeline.
[h=2]Source: The Wrap[/h]

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Movie Reportedly Won’t Include Catwoman[/h]

Catwoman is reportedly not in the plans for Warner Bros.' Birds of Prey. After Margot Robbie stole the show in Suicide Squad, WB heavily invested in the future of Harley Quinn. They developed a number of possible projects for her, but the one Robbie was most interested in was Birds of Prey. Christina Hodson wrote the script and it was so impressive it landed her on Batgirl too. This was a result of Barbara Gordon having a major role in Birds of Prey along with Harley Quinn.
Other than Harley and Barbara, the rest of the ensemble for Birds of Prey has yet to be made clear. That will start to change as the project keeps moving forward under director Cathy Yan. If the movie is going to film near the end of 2018 or early 2019, then it won't be that much longer before casting begins. However, it appears fans shouldn't expect for someone to take the role of Catwoman.



The Wrap's Umberto Gonzalez took to Twitter to shoot down some reported casting for Birds of Prey and in doing so knocked Catwoman out of the possible equation. According to his sources, no one is testing for the role of Catwoman because she is not part of the movie. If true, this eliminates the possibility of Catwoman meeting some of DC's other heroines here and could signal that she isn't going to make it to the big screen for at least a few more years.



Catwoman has already been given a few chances on the big screen, so that could be why she isn't involved in this R-rated girl gang film. Michelle Pfeiffer made a memorable turn as Selina Kyle in Batman Returns. Halle Berry took a swing (and miss) with a solo film, but then Anne Hathaway gave a much better portrayal in The Dark Knight Rises. Hathaway's take is still just six years old, so WB may be looking to give the character a break before bringing her back. That is, unless there's already plans for her in Batgirl, The Batman, or maybe even Suicide Squad 2.
Even though Catwoman doesn't appear to be in the plans for Birds of Prey, Gonzalez didn't rule out Black Canary. She's a long-standing member of the all-female team in the comics, so many expected she would be involved. Considering this report only takes Catwoman out and not both roles, we could be looking at the third member of the movie's team. However, since no one has gone as far as to say that she is confirmed for the film, its too early to know with any certainty that she will - even if it appears certain Catwoman will not.


Source: Umberto Gonzalez

 

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[h=1]Rumor: Birds Of Prey Movie Will Also Include Black Canary[/h]

There are rumors that DC's Birds of Prey movie will actually include a big-screen adaptation of Black Canary. Although the character is strongly associated with the Birds of Prey brand, up until now, there hasn't been any actual news or rumors alluding to her involvement.
Featuring Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, Birds of Prey will reportedly start filming in early 2019. That means this film should be the next DC movie to hit theaters after the release of Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 2, and it's an approach that makes sense. Although Suicide Squad proved rather divisive, Robbie's performance as Harley Quinn was universally praised, and Warner Bros. is keen on seeing Robbie return to the DCEU. Right now, little is known about the film, although there are a score of rumors - including that the main villain is the Penguin.



According to Omega Underground, Black Canary will appear in Birds of Prey. However, it's worth taking the news with a grain of salt as her involvement hasn't been confirmed. And since there haven't been any character breakdowns or casting calls yet, a lot could change for Birds of Prey between now and when production gets underway. It would be something of a surprise to see Black Canary switch gears from Gotham City Sirens to Birds of Prey, implying that the primary leads in this movie will still be superheroes. Given reports in January that Gotham City Sirens has been pulled, it's possible the two concepts have been merged to an extent.



Although the DCEU was technically born with 2013's Man of Steel, it didn't actually get underway until Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice released in 2016, which proved to be even more divisive than his Superman origin story. Unfortunately, not much changed when Suicide Squad released, which was a victim of choppy editing and a poor villain. The first real success in the DCEU was 2017's Wonder Woman. That film delighted viewers and critics alike, and the studio is no doubt hoping there'll be more successes down the road. With a mostly-female cast - and reportedly a potential all-female crew as well - Birds of Prey could be another hit, should Warner Bros. commission a decent script.


Fans of the comics will be relieved to hear that the movie will remain close to the source material, at least with regard to its character lineup. In the comics, the Birds of Prey concept was originally a loose team-up between Black Canary and Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl. While the team expanded to include characters like Huntress and Lady Blackhawk, the idea of a Birds of Prey movie without Black Canary just didn't quite seem right. This film will stand or fall on the quality of its character dynamics. As such, if Black Canary is indeed part of Birds of Prey, then Warner Bros. will need to be careful to choose the right actress.


Source: Omega Underground

 

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[h=1]Harley Quinn Will Have a New Costume in Birds of Prey Movie[/h]

Margot Robbie will look different the next time she plays Harley Quinn, with Birds of Prey set to debut a new costume. One of the best parts of Suicide Squad was Robbie's portrayal of Dr. Harleen Quinzel. She was able to bring out all of Harley's crazy, while still giving her enough personality to make her a likable anti-hero. The overwhelmingly positive response to her put Warner Bros. in the position of developing numerous films that could possibly star their latest breakout. The sometimes hectic looking DC development process appears to have settled down, and will make Birds of Prey her next starring vehicle.
The project has picked up steam ever since it was revealed that Cathy Yan will direct. Robbie is the only attached star right now, but whoever is cast as Batgirl is confirmed to appear too. WB is undoubtedly thrilled to be making progress on Robbie's next appearance, as the portrayal also translated to massive popularity for Harley Quinn in toys, and especially for Halloween costumes.


Those who cosplayed as Margot's version of Harley will need to make some adjustments though. In an interview with Yahoo, Robbie confirmed that Birds of Prey will debut a brand new Harley Quinn costume. She couldn't share any details on the new look, and for good reason, but there's a chance that a few different costumes will be utilized.

No, honestly [it’s] because the costumes haven’t been designed yet but yes she’ll have new looks.
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Even though Margot Robbie's portrayal is synonymous with the fishnet leggings and "Daddy's Lil Monster" t-shirt look, she has already worn another costume. A brief flashback scene featured her in her original black and red jester costume. That suit doesn't translate itself very well to the big screen, and especially with action scenes, so it is unlikely that it will be one of the new looks Margot gets in Birds of Prey.
Whatever changes Harley's costume receives in this film, it will be interesting to see if they borrow elements from the comics. They could veer back towards a black and red color set for the costume, maybe even making it a bit more practical and comfortable for Robbie. She is one of the DCEU's biggest stars at this point and she has a major role in the development of these projects, especially Birds of Prey. Her influence should go a long way in determining how Harley looks next. Whether this was entirely her decision or one sent down from Warner Bros. and DC to allow them the opportunity to sell more merchandise remains to be seen, but it's hopefully both. Either way, her look will be one of many things to keep an eye on once Birds of Prey starts production.



Birds of Prey is currently in development but does not have a release date.
Source: Yahoo

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Movie: Margot Robbie Pushing to Hire Diverse Co-Stars[/h]

Margot Robbie is hoping to have a diverse cast around her for Birds of Prey. One of the DCEU's greatest strengths so far is the diverse nature of their lineup. Jason Momoa's Aquaman, for example, is very different from the traditional Arthur Curry look. However, they've also been a prime example of giving females starring roles and seeing the success that can come with it. Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman is their highest grossing and best critically received movie. Meanwhile, Suicide Squad introduced Robbie as Harley Quinn, and the film still made over $700 million at the box office despite a critical lashing.
It shouldn't come as a surprise then that quite a few of DC's upcoming films are female focused. Wonder Woman 2 is their big tentpole next year, and it looks like Birds of Prey will immediately follow it in 2020. The project gives WB the opportunity to cast several major hero and villain roles for women, and Robbie wants the people chosen to reflect the real world.



During an interview with Yahoo, Robbie was asked about the developmental process for Birds of Prey and the diversity it already has brought. The film hired Cathy Yan to direct, making her the first Asian woman to direct a superhero movie. The hiring of Yan will be just the start of the diversity on set if Robbie has anything to say about it, as she wants diverse co-stars too. When asked if the diverse hiring will spread to the casting process, Robbie said, "Yep, yes exactly, real life isn’t so one specific image. We’ve got to reflect that onscreen."




There's more attention on who is being hired for Hollywood's biggest films than ever before. Even though a large majority of comic book characters are white (and male), studios are looking to update characters to better represent the current state of the world. It isn't too surprising that Robbie is making this a priority on Birds of Prey either. Not only did she want Yan to direct, but previous reports noted the desire for an all-female crew during production.
As for the characters who could help make up the diverse cast around Robbie, there's only one thing known for sure: Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl will be included. Even though J.K. Simmons plays Commissioner Gordon in this universe, there's no reason why his daughter couldn't be biracial or adopted if the best person to play Batgirl isn't a white redhead. The same could go for Black Canary, who is a rumored part of the ensemble. Huntress is also a candidate to appear and is ethnically ambiguous in the comics. They could however include comic-accurate diverse characters like Vixen or Power Girl too. With Birds of Prey looking to start production early next year, fans could start to get casting news near the end of 2018. Whenever the announcements do come, just how diverse the lineup actually is will be worth keeping an eye on.



Birds of Prey is currently in development but does not have a release date.
Source: Yahoo

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey May Feature Barbara Gordon - But Not Batgirl[/h]

The latest rumors suggest that Batgirl won't actually appear in Cathy Yan's Birds of Prey movie - but that her alter-ego Barbara Gordon will do so after all. It's the latest hint that the film will be true to the original comics, which were set after Barbara was crippled in The Killing Joke.
It's looking as though Birds of Prey may be the next DC superhero movie to release after 2019's Wonder Woman 1984. Margot Robbie recently confirmed reports that filming will begin in January next year, and that it will be a low-budget, R-rated film with a very different tone and style to the rest of the DCEU to date. Little is currently known about the movie, but there are persistent rumors that Black Canary and Huntress are part of the team.


Although initial reports had implied Batgirl would be in the film too, journalist Umberto Gonzalez has taken to Twitter to insist she isn't after all. "Was decided recently no Batgirl," he added in a second tweet. "Attention to detail, I didn't say Barbara Gordon, I said Batgirl." The clear implication is that Barbara Gordon will indeed appear, but in her other superhero identity - Oracle, the computer hacker who served as a friend and ally to the other members of the Birds of Prey in the comics. It looks as though this really will be a comic-book-accurate adaptation.




The future of the DCEU is gradually taking shape, if only because Warner Bros. is being forced to choose one concept over and above another. In this case, if this report is accurate then the studio is committing to developing Barbara Gordon as a crippled character in an R-rated superhero film. Barring an "Elseworlds"-esque concept, that pretty much rules out a lighthearted Batgirl movie inspired by Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher, and Babs Tarr's popular "Batgirl of Burnside" arc. That's particularly surprising given that, back in April,Warner Bros. recruited Bumblebee writer Christina Hodson to work on the script. It may be plans have changed at speed, and Batgirl has now been ditched altogether. Hopefully the situation will be clarified at San Diego Comic-Con. While Warner Bros.' Hall H panel is expected to focus on Aquaman and Shazam!, the recent flurry of Birds of Prey news surely suggests there'll be an announcement of some kind.
It's also interesting to speculate what this would mean for the plot of Birds of Prey. If the Joker has indeed crippled the DCEU's Barbara Gordon, then the heroes surely wouldn't take well to an encounter with Harley Quinn. The stakes could be very personal indeed for this movie.


Source: Umberto Gonzalez/Twitter [via CBR]

 

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[h=1]DC's Birds of Prey Movie Team Includes Black Canary & Huntress[/h]

Black Canary, Huntress, and more will be part of Harley Quinn's team in Birds of Prey. Warner Bros. is finally moving forward with the next film to star Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. After a breakout role in Suicide Squad, the studio has been developing several potential starring vehicles. Through the developmental cycle, Robbie took special interest in Birds of Prey that resulted in Cathy Yan signing on to direct.
In the weeks since, there's been plenty of questions about who will make up the all-female team for the movie. Several rumors floated usual members while others counted out some of DC's known female villains/anti-heroes. Now, it looks like we know who exactly is joining the team.



The Wrap reports Black Canary, Huntress, Cassandra Cain, and Renee Montoya will be the other members of Harley Quinn's female superhero team. Black Canary and Huntress are typical members in the comics along with Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl, who is not part of this roster. Instead, Cassandra Cain may fill that role, as she's also taken on the Batgirl name in the comics. Montoya is a detective for the Gotham City Police Department who eventually becomes Question. As for who they'll face, it will reportedly be a villain who has never been seen on the big screen.




If this is indeed what the final roster for Birds of Prey looks like, it mostly lines up with what was reported on before. Huntress and Black Canary have been rumored for several weeks and their inclusion was heavily expected given their roles in the comics. The biggest surprise comes with Cassandra Cain being part of the roster. It was previously reported that there were two different scripts for Birds of Prey that could be used and other than Harley Quinn, Barbara Gordon was the only other priority. This may have changed due to her upcoming solo film, or this could be a signal that she could still appear - just not as Batgirl. Montoya is the other surprise addition, as she had not previously been linked to the project.
Even though the film's villain remains under wraps (for now), the qualifier given in this report does rule out several names, including Penguin, who was previously rumored. There was a point when Black Mask was being teased as the villain of David Ayer's Gotham City Sirens, but if that project is still years away, it is possible this girl gang film is introducing him now. With the roster of heroes revealed, it may not be long before the villain is confirmed, too. Hopefully, these revelations can lead to further announcements and casting shortly - maybe even at SDCC this weekend.


Source: The Wrap

 

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[h=1]DC's Birds of Prey Movie Villain is Reportedly Black Mask[/h]

Black Mask will reportedly be the villain of the Birds of Prey movie. Warner Bros. has continued to make strides when it comes to Margot Robbie’s next DC appearance. She’ll reprise her role as Harley Quinn early next year once the all-female team-up movie begins production. Harley won’t be the only DC female (anti)hero to make an appearance, though.
She’s going to be joined by Black Canary, Huntress, and others. However, who they’ll face largely remained a mystery. Previous reports indicated it would be someone who hasn't previously been seen on the big screen. If the latest report is true, that will indeed be the case.



The Wrap reports Batman villain Black Mask is going to be the main foe in Birds of Prey. This will be Roman Sionis aka Black Mask’s live-action debut. He's a main player in Gotham's underground crime world, making him a potentially great fit for the film.




Black Mask has long been the top choice for many to be the villain for Birds of Prey, so it's nice to finally see his name attached to the project - even if it isn't in an official capacity. His inclusion in this specific DC movie is rather intriguing given what we do know about the project. A recently revealed Birds of Prey plot synopsis ties the rescue of Cassandra Cain from a mysterious mob boss, who is now, undoubtedly, Black Mask. Why he has Cain under his control isn't yet clear, but it further illustrates the variety of crime that Black Mask could be involved in and why the Birds of Prey need to take him down.


This does, however, show the fluidity of DC's plans. Previous reports pointed to Penguin being the villain in either Birds of Prey or The Batman. Once the latter appeared to snag Oswald Cobblepot, then Birds of Prey had to turn to its plan B. In doing so, the movie looks to have ripped a page from another Harley-centric film. Black Mask was heavily teased to be the villain in David Ayer's Gotham City Sirens, but there has been little word on that project. His appearance here could further signal the dwindling chance of Sirens being made, or could be used as set up for him to appear again.


Now that most of the characters set to be in Birds of Prey have been revealed, it may not be too long before casting starts to be announced. A rumored shortlist for Black Canary and Huntress surfaced recently, and WB firmly knows what and who they're looking for. Whoever plays this part may not get a lot of face time, so a menacing voice and some name recognition could do the job. Hopefully, the choice of Black Mask proves to be the right one for Birds of Prey's villain.

Source: The Wrap

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Rumor: Andi Mack Star Eyed For Cassandra Cain Role[/h]

New rumors suggest Andi Mack star Peyton Elizabeth Lee is being eyed for the role of Cassandra Cain in Birds of Prey. Following the success of Wonder Woman, the future of the DC Universe continues to look female. Bringing Margot Robbie back has been a priority, with Robbie especially being drawn to Birds of Prey. Once Warner Bros. hired Cathy Yan to direct the project, this Harley Quinn led movie has become the priority.
Robbie has described the concept as a girl gang film that will put Harley on the same side as several of DC's female heroes. Recent reports pointed to Black Canary and Huntress being two of her main teammates, but a reported plot synopsis teased the importance of Cassandra Cain. Now, there's some rumors about who could possibly play the young martial artist.


Two sources are now reporting Birds of Prey is eyeing Andi Mack star Peyton Elizabeth Lee for the role of Cassandra Cain. The GWW hinted that Lee was in consideration for the role. Then, a few minutes later, @DanielRPK shared the rumor as well. Daniel stressed in an earlier tweet to take this as a rumor as it isn't from one of his regular sources, but with Walsh also sharing the news, this could be legitimate. It is also possible that both users have a shared source, so take this with a grain of salt for the time being.



The version of Cassandra Cain that will appear in Birds of Prey is going to be young, possibly even pre-teen. Lee is currently 14 years old, so she fits the possible age range from a casting perspective. Her starring role on Andi Mack is her most notable credit and even gives her ties to the DC Universe. Andi Mack is the same show where Asher Angel made a name for himself, prior to being cast as Billy Batson in Shazam!.
If Lee is being considered for the role, there's no word on her status or competition. She is the only name to be linked to Cassandra Cain so far. Lee could be the frontrunner or simply the one of the early candidates that impressed. There must be other contenders for the part, but fans will have to wait and see if those named are revealed too. Right now, Lee joins some high profile names as being linked to a Birds of Prey role, although the others are reportedly being eyed for Black Canary and Huntress. The casting process is clearly underway, so Robbie could land some Birds of Prey co-stars before we know it.

Source: The GWW, DanielRPK

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Rumor: WB Looking to Cast a Biracial Black Canary[/h]

A new rumor suggests that Warner Bros. and DC Films are seeking a biracial actress to play the role of Black Canary in the Birds of Prey movie. One of the many superhero movies Warner Bros. has in development at the moment, Birds of Prey centers upon an all female group of superheroes based out of Gotham City.
The film, which is being produced by Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie as well as directed by Cathy Yan, will see Robbie's Harley Quinn teaming with the titular team to face a new villain. The team's line-up, largely staying true to the original comics, will reportedly include the Mafia-focused vigilante Huntress as well as Black Canary - a master martial artist with an ultrasonic scream. It was recently rumored that the studio was looking at casting either Vanessa Kirby or Jodie Comer as Black Canary, but now it seems that they may be going in a different direction.




Heroic Hollywood reports that Warner Bros. is seeking a biracial actress for the role of Black Canary. The studio is also apparently seeking someone with experience as a singer. Their intent is to cast a "world-weary Black Canary who has the ability to sing."




This take on the character would mirror Dinah Drake in the current timeline of DC Comics' Rebirth, where she is a former government agent who hides in plain sight by posing as the rock star "D.D." while fronting a band called Black Canary - the same code name she uses when fighting crime. While the character of Black Canary has been traditionally portrayed as a light-skinned woman of unspecified ethnicity, there is a precedent for her to be depicted as a biracial character. Plus, she has often been portrayed by biracial actresses. Juliana Harkavy, who plays the role of Dinah Drake/Black Canary on Arrow, is of Dominican, African, Russian, Hungarian, and Chinese ancestry.


This new rumor also lines-up with an earlier rumor which suggested that Warner Bros. had approached singer/actress Lady Gaga about a role in Birds of Prey, but that she turned them down. The rumors also fit an earlier statement by Robbie that they would be hiring a diverse group of actresses to bring the Birds of Prey to life. In addition to Black Canary and the Huntress, the team line-up will reportedly include Cassandra Cain, though it's unclear if the studio is looking at Cain's version of Batgirl or Orphan. Either one is possible, but making her Batgirl would leave room for Barbara Gordon to headline her solo Batgirl film without needing to tie into this movie. Still, this doesn't account for reports that indicate Barbara will still appear in Birds of Prey.


It is also worth mentioning that this rumor is largely speculative and that no official casting information has been released by DC Films or Warner Bros. regarding the Birds of Preymovie at this time. Still, this rumor, if accurate, does show that the studio is staying true to the basic concept of the character even as they attempt to present a more varied line-up of heroines. That's something fans of Dinah Drake from the comics should be able to appreciate, as the racial ancestry of Black Canary is unimportant so long as she is still a master martial artist who can fight just as well as she can carry a tune.

Source: Heroic Hollywood

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Working Title Revealed, Early 2019 Filming Start Confirmed[/h]

It appears that the highly anticipated Birds of Prey movie is finally moving forward, with a working title and filming start having been set for the film to officially start production. First seeing life as a series of comic book specials before becoming a monthly series in 1999, Birds Of Prey centered upon a partnership between superheroines Barbara Gordon (aka Oracle) and Dinah Lance (aka Black Canary). With the wheelchair-bound Oracle acting as the brains and master martial artist Black Canary the brawn, the two tackled those missions that fell beneath the notice of the superhero orthodoxy.
Later, under the pen of writer Gail Simone, their team would expand to include the Huntress and Lady Blackhawk and eventually encompassed a rotating group of DC Comics' heroines. Warner Bros. has been developing a Birds of Prey movie starringSuicide Squad standout Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn for some time. Now, the movie takes a major step forward.


PursueNews reported upon the announcement of the shooting date being set, as well as the working title utilized at Warner Bros. during the early stages of Birds of Prey's development. The movie is scheduled to begin shooting on January 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, and was referred to in studio documents as Fox Force Five.


Fox Force Five was the name of a fictional television show that never made it past the production of its pilot in the movie Pulp Fiction. Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) mentions the show in one scene while discussing her brief flirtation with acting and how she had played one of the titular five - an all-female group of secret agents, each with their own specialty, similar to Charlie's Angels. She describes the Fox Force Five as being made up of her character (a carnival knife-thrower named Raven McCoy) a blonde leader, a French seductress, an African-American demolitions expert and a Japanese martial arts master.


The connection is immediately obvious, even to those who aren't avid fans of the original comics. The membership of the team has been as notably diverse as the Fox Force Five over the years, employing a number of specialists with Black Canary (a blonde) most frequently acting as the team's field leader. This also ties into early reports that the movie would be centering around a team of five heroines, made up of Harley Quinn, Black Canary, Huntress, the Cassandra Cain Batgirl and Rene Montoya, who took up the identity of The Question in the comics after years as a police detective in Gotham City.
While this news doesn't tell Birds of Prey fans much more than they already knew, it does speak well of the creative team behind the movie that they used such a clever and fitting reference as a working title. If nothing else, this news is sure to lift fans' spirits now that the long-awaited movie is finally moving forward and due to start shooting soon. More, this means that an official announcement regarding the movie's cast of characters and what actors will be playing them cannot be too far off.

Source: PursueNews

 

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[h=1]Birds Of Prey Movie Officially Gets February 2020 Release Date[/h]

Birds of Prey gets a release date, hitting theaters early 2020. Warner Bros. and DC are investing heavily in Margot Robbie's version of Harley Quinn. She broke out in Suicide Squad and fans have been dying to see her appear again ever since. However, it wasn't entirely clear when that would be or what project would get her next. Gotham City Sirens, Suicide Squad 2, and Joker vs Harley Quinn were in consideration, but Birds of Prey ultimately won out. WB brought Cathy Yan on board to direct and has kicked the project's development into high gear.
Production on Birds of Prey will reportedly begin early next year, which has made many fans wonder when exactly it will be in theaters. Prior to filming beginning, some other steps must be taken, and it looks like casting will come next - as actresses are testing for Black Canary and Huntress. No decision has been made, but we know when they'll all team up.



The Wrap shared that Warner Bros. officially gave Birds of Prey a release date of February 7, 2020, although Birds of Prey is not the official title. This will make it the first DC movie to come out the gate in 2020 and will also be available in IMAX. The February placement will make Birds of Prey the latest blockbuster looking to capitalize on low competition in that month. Now that the release date is set, it may not be too much longer before WB is ready to officially announce other aspects of the film.




With Birds of Prey looking to be the next DC movie to enter production, an early 2020 release date was to be expected. That said, the exact date may be a slight surprise to those who've followed Warner Bros.' strategic placeholder announcements in the past. They previously dated February 14, 2020 as a spot for an unannounced DC movie. Birds of Prey will arrive the week prior, and likely because Bond 25 was just delayed to the date both DC and Disney previously staked out. By the looks of 2020's early release schedule, this should be one of the year's first major blockbusters


The Wrap shared that Warner Bros. officially gave Birds of Prey a release date of February 7, 2020, although Birds of Prey is not the official title. This will make it the first DC movie to come out the gate in 2020 and will also be available in IMAX. The February placement will make Birds of Prey the latest blockbuster looking to capitalize on low competition in that month. Now that the release date is set, it may not be too much longer before WB is ready to officially announce other aspects of the film.




The Wrap shared that Warner Bros. officially gave Birds of Prey a release date of February 7, 2020, although Birds of Prey is not the official title. This will make it the first DC movie to come out the gate in 2020 and will also be available in IMAX. The February placement will make Birds of Prey the latest blockbuster looking to capitalize on low competition in that month. Now that the release date is set, it may not be too much longer before WB is ready to officially announce other aspects of the film.




With Birds of Prey looking to be the next DC movie to enter production, an early 2020 release date was to be expected. That said, the exact date may be a slight surprise to those who've followed Warner Bros.' strategic placeholder announcements in the past. They previously dated February 14, 2020 as a spot for an unannounced DC movie. Birds of Prey will arrive the week prior, and likely because Bond 25 was just delayed to the date both DC and Disney previously staked out. By the looks of 2020's early release schedule, this should be one of the year's first major blockbusters


Source: The Wrap

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Officially Casts Its Black Canary & Huntress[/h]

Warner Bros.' upcoming Birds of Prey movie has officially cast two of its lead roles, with Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) claiming the role of Huntress, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground) playing Black Canary. With Margot Robbie set to reprise her role as Harley Quinn, there is now just one more Bird of Prey left to be cast: tough-as-nails detective Renee Montoya.
Both Winstead and Smollett-Bell were named on a casting shortlist for Birds of Prey, with Winstead beating Margaret Qualley and Cristin Milioti to the role of Helena Bertinelli a.k.a. Huntress, and Smollett-Bell up against Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Janelle Monae for the role of Dinah Lance a.k.a. Black Canary. Christina Hodson (Bumblebee) wrote the screenplay for Birds of Prey, and Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) is set to direct.

In addition to this confirmed casting news, Deadline reports that there are now just two actresses vying for the role of Renee Montoya: Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) and Roberta Colindrez (Birdman). Montoya is a detective with Gotham City PD, while Black Canary is a vigilante with the ability to incapacitate bad guys using her "canary cry." The movie's Huntress is described as "former mafia princess [who] saw her family killed at a young age," which fits with her comic book origins. Batgirl, who was a member of the Birds of Prey in the comics, is reportedly not in the movie, but Cassandra Cain (who became Batgirl in the comics) will be featured in the story as a young girl whom the team has to save.



Smollett-Bell is best known for her TV roles in shows like Underground, True Bloodand Friday Night Lights, so Black Canary will be her first role in a major franchise film. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is perhaps best known for her role as Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and more recently played the lead role in the minimalist sci-fi horror film 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Birds of Prey is expected to begin production in 2019 and will arrive in theaters in February 2020, a few months after Wonder Woman 1984's release. Warner Bros. has a lot of DC movies at various stages of development, but the success of Wonder Woman and the popularity of Robbie's Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad were likely factors in putting Birds of Prey on the front burner. Harley Quinn is also set for three other upcoming movies: Suicide Squad 2 and Gotham City Sirens, both of which have David Ayer attached to direct, and The Joker and Harley Quinn, which will be written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy, Stupid, Love). Of those movies, Suicide Squad 2 will likely arrive in theaters first, though it doesn't yet have a release date.


With three of the Birds of Prey cast, it won't be long before we find out who will be playing Renee Montoya. We'll keep you updated on any further casting news.


Source: Deadline

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Movie Might Get New Title, Adds Venom Cinematographer[/h]
Margot Robbie's Birds of Prey has added Venom and A Star Is Born's cinematographer, but its title could change. Warner Bros. is gearing up to bring Robbie's standout turn as Harley Quinn back to the big screen. Other spinoffs and sequels fell in favor of the direction of the all-female girl gang style story Birds of Preywill have. After bringing Cathy Yan on board to direct, the movie has continued to move through pre-production at the necessary pace to start filming early next year.
In order to do so, Birds of Prey has been locking in cast members and filling production crew roles. A major step was taken when Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell joined as Huntress and Black Canary. The film now has found its cinematographer, and he's confirmed that a new title is likely coming.



Matthew Libatique spoke to GMA News as he is fresh off working on Venom and A Star Is Born, and he revealed that he's set serve the same role on Birds of Prey. He went on to express his excitement for the project and the crew that is assembled, while also teasing what the movie will be about. In addition to that, he helped clarify Birds of Prey's title status, which could change:

"I'm in preparation on a film currently called Birds of Prey. It's probably going to have a different title. It’s with Warner Brothers, and the director is Cathy Yan. Who directed a film called Dead Pigs which is a Chinese film. I'm excited. It's, in the superheroes genre but this time it's in the DC universe, not the Marvel universe. Margot Robbie is set to star and I'm excited for that. And then it has a little bit of origin story in it, so it makes it intriguing and it's very early though, so early discussions."



Libatique's body of work speaks for itself, so him joining Birds of Prey all but guarantees it will look fantastic at the very least. He was nominated by the Academy for his work on Black Swan but has been a frequent collaborator of Darren Aronofsky, as he also was the director of photography on mother!, Requiem for a Dream, Pi, and The Fountain. While he just did Venom, Libatique also worked on Iron Man and Iron Man 2, so he's no stranger to the superhero movie genre.
As for Birds of Prey's possible new title, this is something that was previously thought to be possible when WB gave it an official 2020 release date. There's still no word on what the actual title of the movie will be, but it would make sense that Harley Quinn will be in the title. After all, Robbie's anti-hero is the known commodity for audiences and the lead by default. Should the title eventually be revealed to be something like Harley Quinn & Birds of Prey, it'd set up a future for more installments without Harley, while still capitalizing on her name at first. Audiences will have to see exactly what WB decides to call Birds of Prey, but the title will hardly be as important to the film's success if it can continue to assemble talent in front of and behind the camera.


Source: GMA News
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[h=1]Birds of Prey Movie Casts Ewan McGregor as DC Villain Black Mask[/h]

DC's Birds of Prey movie has cast Ewan McGregor to play the villain Black Mask. It was reported last month that Warner Bros. and DC had their eye on either McGregor or District 9's Sharlto Copley to portray the film's big bad - a character who, at the time, was heavily rumored to be Gotham City mob boss Roman Sionis (aka. Black Mask).
Birds of Prey itself has started to come together at a steady pace over the past few months, now that production is gearing up to begin in early 2019 (in order to make its scheduled February 2020 released date). Margot Robbie is reprising her Suicide Squad role as Harley Quinn in the film and will share the screen alongside a team of super-antiheroes that includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane) as mafia heiress-turned-vigilante Huntress and Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground) as rough n' tumble street fighter Black Canary.



According to The Wrap, McGregor is now in final negotiations to play Black Mask inBirds of Prey (with additional outlets having since confirmed the news). He joins a cast that further includes Rosie Perez (The Counselor) as the Gotham Detective Renee Montoya. It's also been rumored that Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack) is circling the role of a young Cassandra Cain, who goes on to become one of the versions of Batgirl in the DC comics.
Developing...
Source: The Wrap

 

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[h=1]Birds of Prey Movie Star Reveals Full Official Title of Harley Quinn Spinoff[/h]


Margot Robbie reveals the full title of DC's upcoming Harley Quinn spinoff, Birds of Prey. Robbie became a pop culture icon her for portrayal of the DC villain in Suicide Squad, which inspired thousands of comic-con geeks, cosplayers, and even Sarah Michelle Gellar's Halloween costume. Co-starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, and directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs), Birds of Prey marks the DCEU's first R-rated and all-female team-led project.
Casting and production announcements for the films have been rapid over the past few months. Fresh face Ella Jay Basco was recently announced to be playing Cassandra Cain, and Ewan McGregor was cast as main bad guy Black Mask. Story details involve Harley Quinn, Huntress, and Black Canary, as well as pursuant Gotham City detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) teaming up to protect Cassandra, who eventually becomes Batgirl in the comics. Winstead, revealed in an interview that the basis of Birds of Prey is following Harley Quinn's initiative to form a team of her own. The film is slated to begin shooting in January 2019, with the theatrical release aimed for February 2020. It now appears that the premise of Harley Quinn's transformation into a team leader will be everything fans have hoped for.


Robbie took to Instagram to share the full script title: Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Warner Bros. has since confirmed this is, in fact, the film's official title, and not Robbie's annotation for her script copy. Check out the post below:

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The post has already gotten over half a million likes from Robbie's 14.8 million following. The title strongly suggests that Birds of Prey will involve at least part of DC's 2016 Harley Quinn comic series (featuring the Robbie costume design), in which she leaves the Joker for good.



For many fans, this development is everything they've hoped for. Since the character of Harley Quinn was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, the Joker's abusive treatment of her has been compared to domestic violence issues. Some fans objected to the Joker/Harley Quinn relationship storyline in Suicide Squad as romanticizing or condoning intimate partner violence. But by looks of it, Birds of Prey definitely marks Harley Quinn's freedom from prisons imposed by both the Joker and Amanda Waller. It's likely that she'll be seen not only as her own kind of hero, but as someone completely in charge of herself. Since fans were first introduced to Robbie's version of the character dangling from a prison ceiling with Leslie's Gore's "You Don't Own Me" playing in the background, the promise has been a long time coming.


Source: Margot Robbie/Instagram

 

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[h=1]DC's Birds of Prey Movie Adds Chris Messina, Fills Out Its Cast[/h]

The complete cast for Birds of Prey reveals Chris Messina's addition as DC Comics villain Victor Zsasz. After Margot Robbie broke out in her role as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, Warner Bros. and DC Films have selected Birds of Prey to be her next appearance. The movie will once again team Harley up with other DC characters, but it will be an entirely different set up this time.
Birds of Prey will pair Harley with DC heroines Black Canary and Huntress. Casting these two roles was an early priority for the studios and director Cathy Yan due to their significant roles in the movie. After a shortlist of contenders surfaced, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were cast as Black Canary and Huntress respectively. But, since Birds of Prey is a team up movie, it means that there must be villains to fight. Ewan McGregor will fill the lead villain role as Black Mask, but he will not be alone.


Deadline revealed the full cast list for Birds of Prey, which includes the confirmation of Chris Messina and others. Messina (Sharp Objects) will play the DC villain Victor Zsasz who will work with Black Mask in the movie. Messina will be the third person to play Zsasz in a live-action setting after Anthony Carrigan (Gotham) and Tim Booth (Batman Begins), although THR shares John Leguizamo was going to play the part before Messina but had to drop out. In addition to Messina's casting, it has also been confirmed that Steven Williams (The Chi), Derek Wilson (Preacher), Dana Lee (Dr. Ken), Francois Chau (The Expanse), and Matthew Willig (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) have all joined the cast of Birds of Prey - but their roles have not yet been revealed. The Wrap also reported comedian Ali Wong has joined the cast as an associate of Renee Montoya, as well as the addition of Robert Catrini.


Victor Zsasz was created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle in 1992. After losing all of his money to gambling, Zsasz is on the brink of committing suicide. He is assaulted right before he ends his life and instinctively kills his attacker instead. In this moment, Zsasz finds what he believes to be his purpose and sets out to liberate people from their miserable lives. His insanity doesn't stop there, as he also carves a tally mark into his skin for each of his kills. The combination of him and Black Mask could make for an intimidating rogues gallery for the Birds of Prey to try and defeat. However, since there are no details given on the other cast members' characters, they could play any number of roles, such as henchmen, fellow criminals, or even have ties to the main heroes.


Now that these eight new cast members are confirmed for Birds of Prey, it looks like the entire main cast list is set. Other additions to the film's cast include Rosie Perez as Detective Renee Montoya and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain. If there are any smaller roles that need to be filled, those announcements should be made sooner than later, as Birds of Prey is quickly approaching the start of production.


Sources: Deadline, THR, The Wrap