Did you spot the nod to Robert Patterson's new Batman in the animated DC Harley Quinn series? Set to make his debut in Matt Reeves' upcoming The Batman, currently scheduled for 2021, reaction to "Battinson" was decidedly mixed initially, largely due to the actor's past as a broody teenage vampire in the Twilight movies. However, the more Reeves unveils about the new Caped Crusader, the more fans are getting behind Pattinson, and the more intense anticipation surrounding The Batman becomes. A large part of this attitude shift can be attributed to the reveal of Pattinson's Batsuit - a refreshingly DIY ensemble that attracted a very enthusiastic reception online.
Away from the world of DC on film, Harley Quinn is currently spinning a typically unique version of the Batman world in animated form. Premiering on the DC Universe streaming service in late 2019 and sporting a distinctly R-rated edge, Harley Quinn is arguably the most successful original production available on the platform. Somewhat similar in concept to Birds of Prey, the animated series sees Harley liberated from Joker and striking out in Gotham City on her own. Harley Quinn season 2 premiered earlier this month and the latest installment sees Harley and Ivy investigating a new Riddler university alongside one Barbara Gordon.
In one particular scene, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy have Barbara tied up in her room and a selection of posters can be seen in the background, scattered in typically student-like fashion across the wall. Along with the standard rockstars, Barbara's collection also includes several prominent Batman posters, foreshadowing her love of vigilante justice and admiration for the Dark Knight. Slightly above and to the left, however, is a less obvious Batman Easter egg - the distinctive metallic Bat logo from Pattinson's Batsuit.
While Matt Reeves' reveal of the new Batman costume unveiled a number of notable details, by far the biggest talking point was the symbol, which appears to be constructed from the remains of the gun used to kill Bruce's parents. The detail is a cool, albeit slightly morbid, addition to the mythos of Batman, but also serves to create a very different Bat symbol than those seen previously. As a result, it's easy to pick out Bruce's latest insignia on Barbara's wall, and since the Commissioner's daughter is already a Batman fangirl, the poster blends in seamlessly with its surroundings.
It's interesting the Pattinson's Batman is already getting Easter eggs in the wider DC universe before the hero has even debuted in a trailer, and this is perhaps indicative of how quickly excitement is already building for The Batman. Quality Easter eggs such as this also confirm that Harley Quinn is one of the best DC TV shows to air in recent times, animated or otherwise, and is able to simultaneously pay homage to the world of DC, while also completely writing its own rules.
Harley Quinn season 2 continues with "Riddler U" April 10th on DC Universe.