We still have a while to wait for Harley Quinn‘s next live-action movie, but in the meantime, she’s getting an animated series.
The show will be created by former Powerless showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, and writer Dean Lorey (Arrested Development, Powerless). They all have extensive experience writing comedy and female-led genre shows like Powerless and iZombie, although we admit it would be nice—for once!—to see Harley written by a woman.
This the latest in a new group of shows for DC‘s digital platform, including the upcoming live-action Titans reboot, and the revival of Young Justice. Deadline describes it as a post-breakup story, with Harley taking charge after dumping the Joker. Striking out alone, she “attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City.” The supporting cast will feature other popular DC heroes and villains, including Poison Ivy. Could we finally see an Ivy/Harley romance onscreen, taking inspiration from recent comics?
Harley Quinn was created in 1992 for Batman: The Animated Series, unexpectedly becoming a fan-favorite character. While her co-creator Paul Dini is still a prolific writer for DC and Marvel animation, he isn’t involved in the new series.
Not my project. https://t.co/qBv4LPbaCw
— Paul_Dini (@Paul_Dini) November 21, 2017
Early concept art suggests the show will follow Margot Robbie’s Harley more than the original, harlequin suit-wearing character in Batman: The Animated Series. However, DC made it clear there will be plenty of callbacks to the comics, including Harley’s taxidermied beaver Bernie and her friend Big Tony.
There are a couple of Harley Quinn-centric movies in development at Warner Bros, including a Gotham City Sirens team movie from director David Ayer, and (supposedly) a Harley/Joker spinoff from Suicide Squad.