Harley Quinn showrunner Patrick Schumacker teases that season 3's villain will be something DC has never done before. The adult animated series Harley Quinn premiered to acclaim on November 29, 2019, with critics and fans alike praising the show's balance of dark comedy and serious plot. The show was renewed for season 3 in 2020, and though it took some time for it to be released, Harley Quinn season 3 premiered on HBO Max on July 28, 2022. The season will run for 10 episodes, with the finale airing on September 15.
The series follows the eponymous Harley Quinn, her girlfriend Poison Ivy, and a motley crew of villainous rejects as they struggle to make a name for themselves in Gotham's criminal scene. Among other praises for the series, something that audiences love is that it has a very unique take on familiar DC characters. With Harley Quinn free from language censorship, cursing, making R-rated jokes at the expense of their characters, and dealing with taboo topics makes the animated show a decidedly different addition to the DC universe. The show does what no other DC series has done, and the showrunners enjoy keeping audiences on their toes with every new episode.
In an interview with Screen Rant at San Diego Comic-Con, Schumacker says what he's looking forward to most in season 3 is the introduction of the season's big bad. While he won't reveal who this season's villain is, the co-showrunner is sure it'll surprise audiences - even longtime DC fans. While Schumacker goes on to say that this villain may polarize viewers, he also notes that they are something that has never been done before in the entirety of the DC universe. Read Schumacker's full comment below:
The thing I'm really looking forward to is in the middle of the season, when we find out who our antagonist is for this season; who the Big Bad is. And I think it's going to surprise some people. I don't think it's been done before in the DC universe - in the entirety of DC canon. [Laughs] Maybe it'll be polarizing. I don't know. I think it's pretty fun and unexpected, and that's what I'm looking forward to.
Despite Harley Quinn following a ragtag group of villains, the show isn't without its antagonists. Season 1 focused on Harley battling the Legion of Doom to try and earn her place among their ranks, while also evading Commissioner Gordon and Batman. Season 2 saw Harley fighting other Gotham villains for territorial control, such as the Riddler, Two-Face, and Bane. Harley Quinn has, like so many other series in the DCU, used classic Batman villains to act as antagonists in the series - however, considering that Schumacker says season 3's big bad hasn't ever been done before, perhaps the newest villain won't be a villain at all.
With Schumacker hint, it's possible that audiences may see a DC hero stepping into the role of a villain for the first time. Since season 1, both Batman and Justice League heroes have made regular appearances in the series, with Nightwing joining the season 3 cast. Season 3's major villain is set to make an appearance sometime mid-season, so it won't be long before Harley Quinn fans can expect a major surprise from the show's newest antagonist.