The filmmakers of Suicide Squad initially had someone else in mind before casting Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, the popular character from the DC comic book supervillain team. The ensemble cast is led by Will Smith, Jared Leto, and Margot Robbie.
Emma Roberts was actually considered for the part of Harley Quinn, but she declined the opportunity. Despite not being the first choice, Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn gained widespread acclaim and became one of the standout characters in the DC Universe.
Margot Robbie Was Not Originally Offered the Role of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad
Margot Robbie‘s portrayal of Harley Quinn is so iconic, that it’s almost impossible to picture anyone else in the role. She truly made the character her own.
However, she was not the first choice for the role. Before Robbie took on the role in Suicide Squad, Emma Roberts was initially offered the part but declined in favor of starring in Fox’s satirical horror series, Scream Queens.
Robbie’s Harley Quinn graced the big screen in three films: the 2016 Suicide Squad, the 2020 spin-off Birds of Prey, and the 2021 soft reboot The Suicide Squad.
Harley Quinn was created by Paul Dini Bruce Timm. The quirky villain was introduced in the 1992 animated series Joker’s Favor.
Margot Robbie Wanted to Take a Break from the Iconic Character
The actress had previously mentioned her intention to take a break from portraying the supervillain character. She indicated that the continuous filming of Birds of Prey and another project had left her feeling exhausted and in need of a hiatus from playing Harley Quinn.
“It was kind of back-to-back filming Birds… and filming this, so I was kind of like, oof, I need a break from Harley because she’s exhausting,” the actress told EW. “I don’t know when we’re next going to see her. I’m just as intrigued as everyone else is.”
David Ayer helmed Suicide Squad (2016) grossed $746 million worldwide even after being panned by critics and DC Comics fans alike. The movie was criticized for its plot, dialogue, direction, editing, and action scenes. However, Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn was well-received.
Despite initially expressing a desire for a break from the role after The Suicide Squad, Robbie later mentioned in a 2021 interview with ET! Online, she was now prepared to return to portraying Harley Quinn. However, Robbie’s future in the universe is more uncertain than ever.
Watch Suicide Squad (2016) on Prime Video.
