Margot Robbie says R-rated Birds of Prey movie could shoot in January

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

For a film which was met with such a divisive reaction upon its release, SUICIDE SQUAD sure has generated more than its share of sequels and spin-offs, most of which involve the Joker (Jared Leto) or Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). The first of those projects is quickly approaching as Margot Robbie has told Flickering Myth that production on BIRDS OF PREY is expected to get underway in January 2019.

Margot Robbie previously revealed to Collider in May that she had pitched Warner Bros. on on the idea of an "R-rated girl gang film including Harley, because I was like, ‘Harley needs friends.’ Harley loves interacting with people, so don’t ever make her do a standalone film. She’s got to be with other people, it should be a girl gang. I wasn’t seeing enough girl gangs on screen, especially in the action space. So that was always a big part of it." The R-rating hasn't been confirmed, but Margot Robbie seems confident that it will be, adding to Flickering Myth that BIRDS OF PREY will be "different" from the other Harley Quinn spin-offs and made with a "much smaller budget," another sign pointing to an R-rating. We may hear more during Warner Bros.' panel at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con, so keep your ears open.

Set to be directed by Cathy Yan (DEAD PIGS) and scripted by Christina Hodson (BUMBLEBEE), the project is based upon the Birds of Prey comic, which finds prominent superheros such as Black Canary, Barbara Gordon, Huntress, and more teaming up. It's not known exactly which grouping will be featured in the film, but I'm already pumped. Although Margot Robbie merely wanted the best director for the job, she knew that it would be hugely important if a female director helmed the film. "And then of course having a female director to tell that story. And giving a female director the chance to do big budget stuff," Robbie told Collider. "They always get ‘Here’s the tiny little film’… I was like, ‘I love action. I love action films. I’m a girl. What, are we meant to only like a specific thing’?” So it was a hugely important to find a female director for this, if possible. But at the end of the day — male, female — the best director gets the job and Cathy was the best director."

BIRDS OF PREY doesn't have a release date yet, but if production really is set to kick off early next year, I'd imagine we'll hear something before too long.