Harley Quinn takes liberation to new heights in the first official Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) trailer, shown actively destroying the infamous Ace Chemicals factory. The character of Harley originated on Batman: The Animated Series, voiced by Arleen Sorkin. She proved so popular, however, that she made the jump to the comics in 1993. She has since been adapted multiple times for live-action, most noticeably by Margot Robbie in 2016's Suicide Squad. Although the film itself was met with an underwhelming reception, Robbie was largely praised for her performance. As such, a self-produced, more female-centric follow-up was greenlit.
Directed by Cathy Yan, Birds of Prey also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya. They will be forced to team up with Harley Quinn in order to help protect Ella Jay Basco's Cassandra Cain. That endeavor will put them firmly in the crosshairs of Ewan McGregor's notorious crime boss Black Mask and his pet serial killer, Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina). A large portion of Birds of Prey's first trailer, however, focuses on Harley Quinn coming to terms with her and Joker's romantic split.
After declaring that she and her Mr. J have consciously broken up, Harley runs the spectrum of traditional reactions. She furiously cuts her own hair and dramatically changes her style. She pours her attention into and recreates Lady and the Tramp with a new pet (in this case, a Hyena). She throws knives at a picture of her lost love. And she levels to the ground in a fiery fury the comic book landmark forever associated with him. At first glance, fans could understandably assume Harley is just joining the pantheon of characters who walk away from explosions without flinching. Upon closer inspection, however, the building suffering her wrath is most assuredly Ace Chemicals.
Ace Chemicals has a storied history within DC Comics. The plant was originally owned by Martha Wayne's parents, before being sold to Apex Chemicals and then to Ace. In 1951's Detective Comics #168, it was also the scene of a fateful heist committed by the Red Hood Gang. Batman's interception would ultimately lead to the gang's supposed leader to fall into a vat of chemicals. Emerging with bleached skin, green hair, and an eerie smile, the minor villain would go on to become Batman's arch-nemesis: Joker. The event was reimagined in Alan Moore's The Killing Joke, with the character serving as a scapegoat rather than a ring-leader. Still, the results remained the same. The factory has frequently been used by The Joker as a hideout.
In Suicide Squad, it also served as the venue where Jared Leto's Joker and Harley Quinn solidified their bond. After willingly throwing herself into a similar vat, then Doctor Harleen Quinzel is joined by Joker - who pulls her out in a twisted baptism of sorts. As such, its destruction is a fitting gesture in Harley's attempt to cleanse herself and rid all signs of her former "pudding" from her life. Not to mention firmly in keeping with Harley's lavishly over-the-top ways. Equally, with Renee Montoya seemingly investigating the carnage earlier in the trailer, it could be that this particular act is what leads to Harley crossing paths with her and the rest of the titular group. The full extent of her liberty from Joker - and whether it ultimately sticks - can be seen when Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) finally hits theaters.
