Margot Robbie Replaced As Harley Quinn? There’s A New Development

DCU head James Gunn says he will definitely work with Margot Robbie in the future.

By Mark McKee | Published

margot robbie

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is pretty straightforward with who plays whom and where movies belong, the DC Extended Universe was convoluted and aimless since its launch in 2013. While the Snyderverse still has fans calling for the return of Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck (sign the petition at Change if you want it), and other actors are portraying DC characters in Robert Pattinson, Joaquin Phoenix, and Lady Gaga‘s unconnected projects, James Gunn’s new DCU is throwing a wrench in it by resetting everything. Of course, with a reset on the horizon, who goes and who stays is a constant question, and with a cryptic post on Twitter, the director has hinted that Harley Quinn actor Margot Robbie could return. 

The Twitter thread started with a fan pointing out that the Guardians of the Galaxy director has worked with two wrestlers who have gone on to become great actors in Dave Bautista (Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy) and John Cena (Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker). Another fan felt the need in the thread to ask whether the new architect of the DCU would be working with Margot Robbie again, and he, of course, responded in a way that confirmed nothing at all but gave the fans something to grab onto and create hope out of thin air. With this comment, all Gunn truly says is that he would work with the Wolf of Wall Street actor again, not that she would be returning to Harley Quinn in the DCU. 

margot robbie james gunn

While the DCEU Snyderverse was doomed to be a jumbled mess with more misses than hits, the cast provided some of the most perfect representations of their comic-book counterparts. Henry Cavill’s Superman is perhaps the most beloved of the DCEU alums and the most desired for a return as fans have called for his return since 2013, with Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, and Ben Affleck’s Batman not far behind. Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was able to become a DC icon despite her introduction coming in the maligned Suicide Squad from David Ayer, where she outshone Will Smith, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, and Cara Delevigne. 

Fans have been reeling since the news broke that Henry Cavill wouldn’t be returning to the role of Superman, but James Gunn has been adamant that he never fired the actor and would be open to him returning to the DCU in a different role. Knowing that and putting this post through that lens, he could be saying the same thing about Margot Robbie, that her iteration of Harley Quinn is over, but she could return to the DCU in a different role if she chose to do so. 

With Ben Affleck saying he wouldn’t want to direct a film for the DCU, Henry Cavill on the outs, and Gal Gadot all but gone as well, it would seem likely that Gunn’s comments here are meant to say he would work with Margot Robbie again on other projects, but not necessarily her iconic Harley Quinn character.