Margot Robbie Says She Plans To Take A Break From Acting- Will WB Recast Harley Quinn Or Wait?

Margot Robbie Says She Plans To Take A Break From Acting- Will WB Recast Harley Quinn Or Wait?

Following the massive success of Barbie, actress Margot Robbie has revealed that she's planning on taking a break but it would be foolish for the DCU to not have plans for Harley Quinn.

By MarkJulian - Jan 13, 2024 12:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Suicide Squad
Source: Deadline

After Barbie grossed a fortune for Warner Bros. last year, one has to presume that the film's actress, Margot Robbie, has some clout within the company.

On paper, you'd think that if an actress who had just made the studio over a billion dollars went into David Zaslav's office and said she wanted to keep portraying Harley Quinn, he'd agree.

The actress has previously stated that Harley Quinn is an important role for her after portraying the character in 2016's Suicide Squad, 2020's Birds of Prey and 2021's The Suicide Squad. She also has an in with new DC Studios co-chair James Gunn, who directed the 2021 pic.

The wrinkle here is that Robbie has just revealed that she plans on taking an acting hiatus.

Speaking to Deadline, Robbie stated, "I also think everyone’s probably sick of the sight of me for now. I should probably disappear from screens for a while. Honestly, if I did another movie too soon, people would say, “Her again? We just did a whole summer with her. We’re over it.” I don’t know what I’ll do next, but I hope it’s a little while away."

Robbie, who is currently attached to star in an Ocean 11's prequel alongside her Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling, revealed that news of the project leaked a little too soon and that production won't ramp up for quite some time.

Well, that’s still in development. Word got out about that; we didn’t release anything because it’s way too soon, to be honest. Whether it winds up being the next thing, I don’t know. I don’t think so. It’s a pretty big project to put together and there are certain logistical things that we have to time it around," Robbie explained.

If Robbie does indeed take a break, does that mean Harley Quinn is also off-limits for the foreseeable future?

Contrary to a recent rumor, Gunn just took to social media to let it be known that there are currently no plans to replace Robbie as Harley.

It seems rumor mongers misinterpreted Robbie's recent comments that she always saw Harley as a role that many other actresses would portray- similar to James Bond or...Batman. However, if you dig deeper, you'll discover that Robbie's response was to a question concerning Lady Gaga's upcoming turn as the psychotic psychiatrist in Joker: Folie à Deux.

After the 'Trinity' of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn is arguably DC Comics' fourth most popular character.

In the past DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee has said pretty much the same thing. "I refer to her as the fourth pillar in our publishing line, behind Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman," Lee told Vulture.

Harley Quinn is everywhere, from comics to animation, merchandising, and film, and it would be insane for WB to reboot its DC cinematic world without any pre-planned preparations for such a popular character.

But if Robbie plans on disappearing from movie screens for a while but still wants to hold on to the role of Harley, what options are left to Gunn and WB?

While this likely isn't a pressing concern at the moment as the studio and Gunn are likely fully-invested in Superman: Legacy's pre-production, this situation is certainly worth keeping an eye on as  DC fans eagerly await news on the rest of Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters' slate.

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Ginley
Ginley - 1/13/2024, 1:04 AM
WB should recast Harley Quinn to provide the DCU with a clean slate, not because of whatever nonsense Mark is in a tizzy about.

And I don't understand the rush to recast anyway.

Considering that no other films are on track besides "Superman: Legacy", is there a good reason to lock in Harley Quinn this early before, you know, Batman?

And in between cartoons and Lady Gate's upcoming performance, is there really a deficiency of Harley Quinns in the marketplace?
McMurdo
McMurdo - 1/13/2024, 7:40 AM
@Ginley - 🤡
TheFlash31
TheFlash31 - 1/13/2024, 2:01 AM
Harley Quinn should NOT be WB’s fourth pillar. Are they insane? There are so many other DC characters that should take priority after Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Have they completely forgotten about Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman?

Even though the DCEU got some things wrong, at least it prioritized the right characters (minus Cyborg). James Gunn might be a decent director, but him prioritizing 3rd tier characters like Peacemaker, Plastic Man, etc makes me VERY scared for the DCU. If you don’t want to prioritize the typical 7 Justice Leaguers then that’s fine, but at least use the 2nd tier characters like Doctor Fate or The Atom. Or even Nightwing for goodness sake.

I for one am not holding my breath for the DCU. For now, I’ll take the movies that we got in the DCEU and at least be grateful that we finally got to see the Justice League come together on the big screen.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 1/13/2024, 9:10 AM
@TheFlash31 - personally I felt that Harleys best role was being Jokers side kick and some events with the Suicide Squad how she became so popular is beyond me
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 1/13/2024, 2:08 AM
With Margot's 3 films, the animated series, and now Lady GaGa tackling the role in an elseworlds film, taking a break from Harley is probably a wise move.
LeonNova
LeonNova - 1/13/2024, 2:09 AM
Oh please, after Barbie especially, she’s the hottest thing on the block. They’ll throw her obscene amounts of money to come back as Harley, and I’m pretty sure she’ll accept it.
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 1/13/2024, 2:38 AM
She could literally sit at home for two years and still be Harley Quinn in the DCU. Two years is nothing in movie time but in real life time that is two full years of relaxing. That’s why you always have to take the take time away from acting comments from anyone with a grain of a salt. It’s not meaningless to them personally but in practical terms it’s fairly meaningless.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 1/13/2024, 2:45 AM
Good for her. Truth be told, we all need a breather now and again. She is fortunetely in a place where she can comfortably do so. The DCU films will be fine (or maybe not) regardless of her.
CapA
CapA - 1/13/2024, 2:49 AM
Maybe she wants some time to have a baby. Even if that's just to take a break, she deserves it (Babylon > Barbie)
S8R8M
S8R8M - 1/13/2024, 3:24 AM
Yeah I am tired of adding my own brand of makeup to your pictures haha.
I wouldn't blame her fkr having a break. She is one of the hardest working actresses in the world.
She doesn't get enough credit for the things she does on camera and behind the scenes.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 1/13/2024, 3:29 AM
She doesn't really need to take a break though. A step back works too. Jennifer Lawrence was everywhere too, and now she shows up here and there. And speaking of Lawrence, I could actually see her as Harley
Timerider
Timerider - 1/13/2024, 6:11 AM
She should take a break, then do a comedy movie playing a normal everyday person, instead of a doll or a psychopath.

Hangover 4 with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, etc
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 1/13/2024, 6:16 AM
There's no obvious project to put her in right now. It's not like the comics, that will force Harley into any story. They could maybe do a Sirens movie with her, in 6 or 7 years.
Blergh
Blergh - 1/13/2024, 6:28 AM
I thought she was going to do that Ocean's 11 prequel with Ryan Gosling as the parents of Danny Ocean?

Either way: RECAST EVERYONE IN THE DCU.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 1/13/2024, 8:00 AM
There are two Joker/Harley films out this year and neither one of them has Margot Robbie.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 1/13/2024, 10:01 AM
After Joker 2, maybe we could use a break from Harley Quinn AND the Joker from the big screen. So many other characters that can get the spotlight over them in the DCU.

Joker and Harley can always show up in an established universe with years worth of worldbuilding later down the line.

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