6 Things The Birds Of Prey Movie Must Do
How DC can make its Harley Quinn spin-off a success.
Ewan McGregor has just been cast as villain Black Mask, alongside the returning Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Scott Pilgrim’s Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, and True Blood’s Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary. Fans of the DC Comic will know that it’s usually Batgirl, not Harley Quinn, who completes this trio of heroines, but this is the three the movie is plumbing for.
That decision could work out though. Margot Robbie has already proved capable of drawing a crowd, so tinkering seems like the least of Warner Bros’ worries. Birds Of Prey has a less than illustrious history when it comes to adaptions, with the 2002 TV show (this time with Harley as lead villain) flopping miserably. And while Ewan McGregor is a huge talent with a considerable fan base, Black Mask is a villain heralded by comic fans but largely unknown to the rest of the public. He’s not a seat filler the way the Joker or Loki would be.
Despite the cast, it’s clear that there are some traps they need to avoid, as well as paths that seemingly lead to glory.
6. Don’t Waste Ewan McGregor
Black Mask’s last mainstream outing was Arkham Origins, where he was 86ed early on for yet another Joker story. For some, this was a cunning twist but for others, it was disappointing to see the character ditched to give the same villain a starring role again. Here, we need to focus fully on McGregor’s Sionis.
Ewan McGregor may be best known for his turns in the Star Wars prequels and the cult classic Trainspotting, but his recent role as identical Stussy twins in Fargo was a career highlight too. Awarded with a Golden Globe for his performance, McGregor was brilliant as the bumbling, down on his luck Ray and the self made, slightly cowardly Emmit. For Birds Of Prey to succeed, they need to make the most of McGregor.
Like them or loath them, leaks are part and parcel of Hollywood these days. So you have to imagine that if Birds Of Prey were going to pull an Arkham Origins, we’d have heard of it by now. But with two new heroines to establish and the third a bankable star in Harley Quinn, DC have to still allow their villain the time he needs to shine.