Gunn Wants Harley Quinn in the DCU—With or Without Robbie

James Gunn is committed to bringing Harley Quinn into the DC Universe, but he's uncertain whether that means Margot Robbie will be back in the role.

The complication runs deep: Harley's entire character arc has been defined by her relationship with the Joker, a figure who hasn't been introduced in Gunn's DCU yet. That history creates a narrative knot Gunn will need to untangle if he wants to bring the character forward.

Robbie has inhabited Harley across three films—Suicide Squad (2016), Birds of Prey (2020), and The Suicide Squad (2021)—building a version of the character that's become iconic in its own right, separate from her comic origins. If Robbie decides not to continue, Gunn is open to recasting the role entirely rather than abandon the character altogether.

What remains unclear is how Gunn plans to handle Harley's foundational connection to the Joker in a universe where that character hasn't yet appeared. The DCU's Batman is established, but the Joker's presence—or absence—remains one of the franchise's biggest open questions. Whether Gunn reintroduces that dynamic, rewrites it, or sidesteps it altogether will shape how Harley functions in his version of the DC Universe.

For now, Gunn's position is clear: Harley Quinn belongs in the DCU. The casting question and the Joker problem are still being worked out.

Source: GeekTyrant