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Margot Robbie Reveals Penguin's Original Role in 'Birds of Prey'

8/23/2025

Summary

Story summary

Margot Robbie stated that The Penguin was initially intended as the main villain in "Birds of Prey" before being reassigned to "The Batman."
She praised the original script featuring The Penguin and encouraged co-star Colin Farrell to read it.
The villain was changed to Black Mask, portrayed by Ewan McGregor, aligning with the film's mobster theme.
Robbie's future as Harley Quinn is uncertain in the new DC Universe; Farrell will return as The Penguin in "The Batman Part II," releasing on October 1, 2027.

History

Historical Context

Tim Burton's "Batman," released in 1989, revolutionized superhero films, featuring Jack Nicholson as the Joker. This success led Warner Bros. to produce adaptations like "Birds of Prey" in 2020, which shifted focus from The Penguin to Black Mask, reflecting changing narratives in the DC Universe. The evolving character arcs, including uncertainty around Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, highlight the franchise's ongoing transformation.

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Story summary

Margot Robbie stated that The Penguin was initially intended as the main villain in "Birds of Prey" before being reassigned to "The Batman."
She praised the original script featuring The Penguin and encouraged co-star Colin Farrell to read it.
The villain was changed to Black Mask, portrayed by Ewan McGregor, aligning with the film's mobster theme.
Robbie's future as Harley Quinn is uncertain in the new DC Universe; Farrell will return as The Penguin in "The Batman Part II," releasing on October 1, 2027.

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