Earlier this week, we learned Suicide Squad’s Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) will be returning to our screens – not in a solo film, or a Harley and Joker movie (both have been suggested by fans in the past), but as part of a Gotham City Sirens feature. This is huge news for fans of the character, as well as fans of the other two ladies in the eponymous trio, Catwoman and Poison Ivy. Starring Robbie, and with David Ayer in the director's chair, this could become one of the most popular team-ups in the DCEU. It’s phenomenal to see DC creating more female-led comic book movies, especially as the comics giant is about to release a solo Wonder Woman movie, the first female-fronted solo movie in the current comic book renaissance.
Although fans were thrilled at the news that we would be seeing Harley return, many were less than impressed by the film's first casting rumor to rear its head: that the role of Poison Ivy is being eyed by none other than Megan Fox. While this is very much in the realm of speculation so far, fans have been decidedly less enthused by the idea of the Transformers and TMNT actress taking on such a major comic book role.
After putting together a list of actresses we'd like to see play Catwoman, we've decided to lay out a few suggestions for other phenomenal women who could do Pamela Isley justice. Here are 15 Actresses Who Could Play Poison Ivy In Gotham City Sirens.
15. Maddie Hasson
One of the youngest actresses on our list, Maddie Hasson is definitely an up-and-coming star, and a Gotham City Sirens role could prove to be the perfect breakout vehicle for the 21-year-old. A professional dancer as well as an actress, Hasson certainly has the physical ability to compete with Robbie (who does the majority of her own stunts), and to take on a demanding superhero role.
She may not be a natural redhead (Hasson is a blonde by birth), but she’s already shown her willingness to change her hair for a role when she dyed it bright blue in 2015’s A Light Beneath Their Feet. As a relative newcomer to acting (she has only ten credits to her name, including the upcoming Good After Bad and Novitiate) she would be able to truly embody the role for viewers in a way that a well-known actress could not. Her inexperience also leaves her at a disadvantage, of course, as some will naturally wonder if Hasson is quite ready to take on such a major role in a shared universe franchise like the DCEU.
14. Jurnee Smollett-Bell
We’re (happily) thinking outside the box on this one, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell is not the only actress on this list that doesn’t fit the classic comic book look of pale skin and red hair. Although some fans might be less than thrilled to see a woman of color in a traditionally white role -- likely the same fans who were livid at the idea that Zendaya could be portraying Mary Jane in Spider-Man: Homecoming -- we’re happy to re-imagine Poison Ivy in a few different ways… and suggest that actresses who aren’t natural redheads simply add a hint of a tint to their natural hair color.
Smollett-Bell is a fantastic fit for Ivy – she oozes sex appeal (when the role calls for it), she’s the right age (30), and she has plenty of experience on her resume that would suggest she's ready for a breakout into the mainstream. Smollett-Bell is already working on two films for 2017 (One Last Thing and Audrey’s Run), and if DC's smart, they'll strongly consider the hyper-talented actress when they sit down to cast Sirens.
13. Ruth Wilson
Redhead Ruth Wilson wowed audiences as the gloriously manipulative Alice Morgan in Luther, a role that sets her up perfectly to play the equally insane (and cunning) Poison Ivy on the big screen. Although the actress is a bit older than Robbie (34, compared to Robbie’s 26), we would love to see a slightly more mature Ivy to balance out Harley Quinn’s youthful recklessness. In addition, Wilson is both incredibly talented and very experienced with playing complex characters – a must for anyone taking on Pamela Isley, with her many layers and deep-seated issues.
Since she first appeared in Jane Eyre in 2006, Wilson has worked on both television series and full-length films, and with two more films already in post-production and ready for release in 2017 (How To Talk To Girls At Parties and Dark River), she’s in the perfect position to start work in a huge franchise like the DCEU.
12. Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Gotham City Sirens wouldn’t be the first time that Mary Elizabeth Winstead has appeared in a comic book adaptation. Fans of cult classic Scott Pilgrim Vs The World will likely recognize Winstead as Ramona Flowers, the gorgeous pink/blue/green-haired ‘cool girl’ who is the object of the titular character's affections. Not only is she experienced in the realm of comic book movies, but she’s got some action films under her belt as well, with her role in the Die Hard franchise and 10 Cloverfield Lane.
Winstead has even played a bisexual character before, just like Ivy, as one of Ramona Flowers’s ‘evil exes’ was a woman. Clearly, the 32-year-old (with her hair dyed red this time, of course) would be an absolutely perfect fit for the part of Poison Ivy. The only potential issue with Winstead is one of scheduling. The actress is currently working on the FX series Fargo, an ongoing commitment that may not leave much time for such a huge franchise. But if that show continues on with its anthology format without her character needing to return next season, the timing could just be perfect.
11. Jessica Chastain
One of Hollywood’s best-known redheads, it should come as no surprise that we’d be interested to see Jessica Chastain's take on Poison Ivy. Chastain is more than capable of taking on the role, with years of experience and a slew of big-budget films and complicated characters under her belt. Chastain is also absolutely stunning, and a perfect physical fit for Poison Ivy, for what that's worth. Since the beginning of her career in 2004, the actress has steadily risen from minor TV roles to become a major Hollywood star, and could definitely manage to make sure that Poison Ivy is not overshadowed by Harley Quinn’s off-the-wall lunacy.
It's not all sunshine and rainbows here, though, as there are some potential issues with this popular casting choice. Chastain will be turning 40 in 2017, and most new comic book roles are given to younger actors so that, ideally, they can grow with the franchise for the next decade or so. In addition to this obstacle, Chastain doesn’t exactly have much time in her schedule. The star already has three projects in the works for 2017, two for 2018, and another that has been announced but does not yet have a release date. As great as she would be as Ivy, there’s not much room for Gotham-based fun in that packed calendar.
10. Bryce Dallas Howard
One of the headlining stars of Jurassic World, Bryce Dallas Howard is another stunning redhead who would bring a lot of experience and talent to a Gotham City Sirens film. Born into a Hollywood family (her father is an Oscar-winning director and her mother is also an actress), Howard has been building her film career since the early 2000s, and actually starred alongside the previous candidate on our list, Jessica Chastain, in The Help back in 2011. She has also already played a big name in comics (albeit in a small role), when she appeared in 2007’s Spider-Man 3 as none other than Gwen Stacy.
With both comic book and action experience under her belt, Howard would be a phenomenal Pamela Isley. And she's not only a natural fit for the part, but she's recently expressed strong interest in returning to the world of superhero movies. When asking by Cinema Blend if she was interested in the then-available Captain Marvel role, she excitedly replied, "Oh my God, will you write that? Will you write that, please? Yes, let's start a campaign now. That would be rad!" Assuming DC could manage to convince her to cross the aisle over to their side of the comic book world, Howard would be a fine pick for Ivy.
Assuming DC could manage to convince her to cross the aisle over to their side of the comic book world, Howard would be a fine pick for Ivy.
9. Priyanka Chopra
The multi-talented (and drop dead gorgeous) Priyanka Chopra is a huge star in Indian cinema, and she has started to attract the attention of Hollywood now, as well. She's been wowing audiences in her leading role as Alex Parrish on the ABC series, Quantico, and her work as an agent on the action series is the perfect lead-in to a larger action role in a superhero franchise. She’ll also be appearing in 2017’s action/comedy movie Baywatch, which could prove to be a prime opportunity for her to show off her ability to mix drama with humor – something that many would argue the DCEU desperately needs.
Chopra’s long career in Bollywood has given her the necessary experience, yet she is still a new face for many moviegoers who aren’t familiar with Indian cinema. This is an ideal combination for a huge superhero role, and we would love to see the DCEU get even more diverse than it already is for Gotham City Sirens. Chopra is also vocal on issues of gender equality and feminism, so her casting would be a fantastic way to show that this new movie will truly explore the characters of Harley, Ivy, and Catwoman, and not focus too intently on their physical beauty. We can’t see Chopra agreeing to work on a project like this unless there was a feminist edge to it, and that’s exactly what we want to see.
8. Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood is currently making entertainment headlines as the star of HBO’s latest hit, Westworld, but we’d love to see her cross over to the big screen as Poison Ivy. The 29-year-old actress has been working steadily since she was 10, and she definitely has the experience needed to take on such a big part. On top of that, she showed off some phenomenally Ivy-like characteristics in her run on another HBO hit, True Blood. The hit vampire series allowed Wood to really show off her sultry side, and the combination of red hair and fair skin is spot on for Pamela Isley.
Her role as Dolores Abernathy on Westworld isn’t as overtly sexy (Dolores is oftentimes more of a damsel in distress type), but it’s definitely shown us her range, and her ability to get in touch with the violent side of a character and kick some serious ass has been incredibly impressive. Between those two roles alone, it feels like we’ve seen both Pamela Isley (as a shy young botanist), and Poison Ivy in all her vampy glory. If the upcoming second season of Westworld doesn't take up too much of her schedule, she'd be a fantastic choice.
7. Shay Mitchell
This dancer, model, and actress really is the whole package. She's physically capable of some of the more demanding stunt work that comes with superhero movies, she's absolutely beautiful (which is important for a seductress such as Poison Ivy), and although she is something of a newcomer, she’s certainly talented.
Mitchell made her mark on the small screen as the athletic Emily Fields in Pretty Little Liars. While she doesn’t have the same kind of action background that some of our other suggestions do, her role as Emily has certainly prepared her for an on-screen dalliance with Harley Quinn (which could very well turn out to be a key part of a Gotham City Sirens movie). Emily is openly LGBT in the teen series, and has dealt with both the loss of an ex-girlfriend and some more common relationship issues with her current squeeze, Alison (Sasha Pieterse). With Pretty Little Liars ending after season seven, now would be the perfect time for Mitchell to land a role on the big screen.
6. Gugu Mbatha-Raw
In the past decade, Gugu Mbatha-Raw has become one to watch, moving from minor roles in British television all the way to major Hollywood productions, such as next year's live-action take on Beauty And The Beast (where she plays the sexy Plumette). This gorgeous young woman has already worked on a major action/fantasy film with her role in Jupiter Ascending in 2015, and we feel that she would manage the sultry Ivy perfectly.
Joining the DCEU would also see Mbatha-Raw (presumably) working with Will Smith for the second time. Smith worked with the actress on 2015’s sports drama Concussion, and it would be fantastic to see her on screen with him again in the DCEU. We can assume that Smith's Deadshot will show up alongside Harley Quinn again at some point, given their surprisingly touching friendship in Suicide Squad, even if it doesn’t happen in Gotham City Sirens. Mbatha-Raw is currently filming the adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time (due for release in 2018), but has no further projects announced, leaving her plenty of time to become a Siren.
5. Rose Leslie
Best known for her role as the wildling warrior Ygritte on Game of Thrones, this stunning British actress would be a great twist on Ivy; we would love to see the Gotham City Siren with a British accent. She’s also known for her parts on Downton Abbey and The Great Fire, but this wouldn’t be her first time in a big screen production -- or on this side of the pond.
Last year, she starred opposite Vin Diesel in The Last Witch Hunter, a nerdy fantasy epic that saw her loading up on eyeliner and kicking ass. And although the film wasn’t a huge success, it gives us a decent idea of what we could expect from her in a superhero movie like Gotham City Sirens. Gorgeous, talented, and more than capable of taking on the role, Leslie is currently filming the upcoming legal/political drama The Good Fight. Assuming Sirens wouldn't interfere with that or any of her other upcoming work (the project is still in the early stages of development, so we doubt it will), DC would be wise to make sure Leslie is on their audition card.
4. Alexandra Breckenridge
Alexandra Breckenridge has appeared on so many incredible TV series that it’s difficult to know which she is best known for! From brief appearances on hit shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer at the beginning of her career to her more recent work on The Walking Dead and True Blood, Breckenridge is a serious star of the small screen. The role that most closely parallels Poison Ivy, however, is probably her stint on American Horror Story.
Breckenridge plays two characters on the hit FX series, both of whom have their similarities to Ivy. Moira O’Hara is the seductress housekeeper that suits Ivy’s sultry side perfectly, while Kaylee is the emotionally unstable witch who fits Ivy’s insanity perfectly. In addition to her solid experience with similar characters, Breckenridge is currently not committed to any major new roles, which leaves a perfect space for her to join the DCEU.
3. Christina Hendricks
For many fans, Christina Hendricks perfectly embodies the spirit of Ivy. She’s built a career on being a sultry redhead with an hourglass figure, and she'd be able to portray Ivy’s sexier side better than almost anyone else. She has even played a character known only as ‘Seductress’ in Zoolander 2, for what that's worth. However, she has also shown her ability to portray more complex characters, and her career-defining role as Joan on Mad Men shows how well she is able to keep a character sexy without making her one-dimensional. This highly decorated actress has also been nominated for no less than six Primetime Emmys, proving once and for all that she has real substance as well as looks… a combination that she shares with Ivy herself.
However, like some of the other heavy-hitters on our list, Hendricks is a busy woman. She’s already involved in three projects for 2017 (and a fourth for an undisclosed release date), and her workload shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. And at 41 years old, it's possible that she's aged out of consideration for the comic book character she was seemingly born to play, especially if DC has long-term plans for Ivy. Still, we just can't shake the idea of how great she would be for this.
2. Haley Bennett
This small-town girl has built an impressive name for herself in film over the past decade, and Gotham City Sirens could be the perfect film to catapult her to the A-list. Usually a blonde, Haley has also rocked the redhead look in the past, and we’d love to see her get those fiery tresses back to take on Poison Ivy. Only two years older than Margot Robbie, the 28-year-old is the perfect age to join a massive franchise like the DCEU, and she’s certainly got enough experience with action films.
The star has already appeared in several big-budget shoot ‘em up movies, including Hardcore Henry and The Magnificent Seven, as well as several tense thrillers (The Girl On The Train, A Kind Of Murder and Deep Powder). She’s even got some comedy chops to her name as well, which we would love to see in the lighter side of Ivy and Harley’s relationship. Bennett, while not as well-known as many of the other actresses on this list, could be the perfect match for Robbie, and we’d love to see it happen.
1. Natalie Dormer
Our final candidate to play Ms. Isley is another Game Of Thrones star, and one who has the best smirk on screen today. Natalie Dormer shot to fame by playing the seductress, first as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors, and then as Margaery Tyrell on the mega-hit HBO sensation. She’s already been part of a massive franchise with her role in The Hunger Games, where she also proved her ability to balance her good looks with some solid fight scenes. She’s the epitome of a woman who can throw down a challenge with a smile, and we have no doubt that she would do the character of Poison Ivy justice.
That is, if she could fit it in! Dormer asked producers to be killed off in Game Of Thrones in order to take on a whole range of new projects, and now has (at least) five in the works. Of course, the actress does admit that she loves to take on as much as possible, so perhaps she would be willing to find the time for such a fantastic opportunity. We would love it if she could.
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Who else would you love to see join Margot Robbie for Gotham City Sirens? Would any of our picks be better-suited to play the other member of the team? Comment and let us know!