Fans were more than excited for Suicide Squad to bring the love story of Harley Quinn and The Joker to life on film. But like most other aspects of the movie, it ended up confusing or turning off as many fans as it pleased. But for those who tried and failed to understand their twisted, traumatic love story, you're certainly not alone -- even Margot Robbie had trouble wrapping her head around it.
That may be just one more reason why Birds of Prey is going to find Harley living on her own, having broken up with The Joker before the main events of the movie even begin. And while the movie's producers have confirmed that Birds of Prey won't continue Suicide Squad in any way that matters, Robbie believes it's a chance to give audiences a Harley experience they can actually relate to... except for the 'blowing stuff up' part.
Screen Rant had the opportunity to visit the set of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) during production in March, where we spoke with Robbie about this new Harley Quinn story, watching as the eponymous Birds gather together. It was clear from the first Birds of Prey trailer that Harley was moving on from 'Mistah J,' but Robbie explains how one of her own challenges with the character is also being addressed with the shift in Harley's journey.
Was there anything that surprised you most about this incarnation of Harley when you were reading the script?
Not specifically reading the script, because I was on the project before the script was written, so that kind of came together. I guess what's always surprised me, or the thing… and I said this when publicizing Suicide Squad, the first film, is that her relationship with Joker always did confuse me the most. That was the thing that took me the longest to get my head around. In this film though we’re exploring her not being with Joker. And I actually understand the break-up. That’s something I feel like everyone can kind of understand and relate to in some ways. Though she deals with--like she blows things up, I don’t do that. I understand the motivation that spurred on that train of thought.
Fans of Harley who like the sound of that separation and reflection have another reason to get excited, now that the producers confirm Harley Quinn will be the film's narrator, delivering her own vision of the Joker break-up (and possibly some of their relationship leading up to it, too). Even if Jared Leto's Joker won't cameo in any way, his role in that part of Harley's story won't require him to appear. And all things considered, it's hard to argue that Harley and Joker's split in Birds of Prey will be a bit more universal an experience than their Arkham Asylum courtship.
Stay tuned to Screen Rant for more interviews and details from our Birds of Prey set visit!