Margot Robbie has the unique privilege of being one of the few DC Extended Universe casting decisions that seem likely to survive the transition to a new phase of DC films. While many characters like Batman, Superman, and Cyborg seem set to face a reboot of sorts, Robbie's take on Harley Quinn is one of the characters whose future in the DC movies has never really been in doubt. That said, it seems like she may be slipping into a support role going forward, according to Robbie's recent statements on how she and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn view the character.
The next film featuring Harley Quinn is set to be The Suicide Squad, a half-sequel, half-reboot sort of arrangement starring quite a few new faces and boasting an adults-only R-Rating. While Quinn was very prominent in the trailers, some fans may have noticed that there weren't many teases of a character arc for her or any kind of 'bigger picture' motivation beyond the basic plot summary. As it turns out, there's a reasonable explanation for that.
Recently, Robbie talked to Total Film about how she views the character, and what she believes is the best place for her version of Harley Quinn in the DC universe. During a discussion with James Gunn about her role in The Suicide Squad, Robbie discovered they actually agree that the ideal role for her character is as a troublemaker who revolves around the plot, but isn't necessarily the most important person in it.
As the actress comments: "I think Harley is a catalyst of chaos. She’s not necessarily your narrative center, and sometimes it’s great when plot points can rest on other characters’ shoulders, and she can be the thing that erupts a whole sequence of events." So it would seem that after taking the lead in Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn is starting to take a backseat in favor of letting other characters take the spotlight.
It's an interesting instance of a character going full circle: when Harley Quinn was originally introduced to the Batman mythos, she was a side character who was prominent but often played second fiddle to major villains like the Joker. In recent years, she has exploded in popularity, however, starring in multiple live-action films, getting several popular comic arcs, and even an animated TV series all to herself.
While this may represent one version of Harley Quinn stepping back from the spotlight a little, there's still plenty of other DC continuities where she's the top dog. Not to mention that, so long as Robbie wants to play the character, there's always a chance she'll take a lead role again in the future. Until then, fans may appreciate a Harley Quinn whose first priority is chaos and doesn't have to worry too much about character arcs.
The Suicide Squad releases August 6th, 2021.
Source: Total Film