James Gunn Reveals THE SUICIDE SQUAD Cast at DC FanDome

At last, we finally know the people who will put their lives on the line for our country.

During today's DC FanDome online event, James Gunn, director of the upcoming Warner Bros./DC Extended Universe film The Suicide Squad, revealed the main cast for his standalone sequel to the 2016 movie Suicide Squad.

The list, which comprises several cast members returning from Suicide Squad, also features a number of surprising (and, let's face it, extremely obscure) additions from DC Comics' long history.  Here's the rundown...

Viola Davis as Amanda Waller
Joel Kinnaman as Colonel Rick Flag
Michael Rooker as Savant
Flula Borg as Javelin
Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man
Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2
Idris Elba as Bloodsport
Steve Agee as King Shark
Mayling Ng as Mongal
Peter Capaldi as The Thinker
Pete Davidson as Blackguard
Nathan Fillion as T.D.K.
Sean Gunn as Weasel
Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang
John Cena as Peacemaker
Alice Braga as Sol Soria
Storm Reid as Bloodsport's daughter, Tyla DuBois
Taika Waititi as TBD/Undisclosed

The cast was revealed in a special "Roll Call" video, which debuted during the panel, and you can view it below along with a special "Behind the Scenes" video, giving us our first look at the film:




The Suicide Squad is currently expected to arrive in theaters on August 6, 2021.

BIRDS OF PREY Trailer Fantabulously Emancipates One Harley Quinn

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first full trailer for Cathy Yan's Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), based loosely on the DC Comics superteam.  Since the events of Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn has left the Joker and Batman has disappeared, leaving Gotham City unprotected from crime.  When a young girl named Cassandra Cain comes across a diamond belonging to crime lord who goes by the name of Black Mask, Harley joins forces with Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to protect her.

The two-minute trailer opens with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) sharing a drink with Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) in a club.  "Do you know what a harlequin is?" asks Harley in an unusually somber tone.  "A harlequin's role is to serve.  It's nothin' without a master.  No one give two shits who we are beyond that."

As the haunting song "Hymne à l'amour" (Hymn to Love) by Edith Piaf begins to play, we see Harley tearfully cutting her long pigtails shorter.  "The Joker and I broke up," she remarks in a voiceover.  I wanted a fresh start.  But it turns out I wasn't the only dame in Gotham looking for emancipation."

We see Black Canary singing at Sionis' nightclub as Dinah Lance, followed by Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) walking out of police headquarters with her things in a cardboard box as her fellow officers applaud.  Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is shown aiming a crossbow at Harley in an alley before lowering the weapon and lowering the lid of her motorcycle helmet.

Next, we see Black Mask/Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor) exclaim "Spectacular news!" as he walks into a room (without his mask) to find three of the Birds of Prey hanging upside down by their bound feet and wearing gags.

We glimpse Harley being extremely happy about getting a pet hyena, sharing a stick of licorice with the animal.

"Ms. Quinn," Roman says to his henchman Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina), "she belongs to me."

As Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) hides behind a wet Harley, a few of Black Mask's goons start shooting at them, forcing the two to run for safety.  This is followed by Huntress confronting some mob members at a restaurant, kicking the table that results in gunfire.

After we glimpse Sionis and a dozen of his men holding a bound Harley at gunpoint, we see him alone in a separate scene, apparently losing his mental grip.  "Here's the deal, Quinn," he says to her.  "You need me!"

"He's after all of us now," Harley tells the Birds as we see her and the team together, presumably at some abandoned carnival fun house.  "None of us are walkin' outta here, unless we work together."

We see fleeting glimpses Harley dressed as Marilyn Monroe in her performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, followed by Harley riding on the rear bumper of a car while wearing roller skates.

"With you?" asks Montoya, in response to Harley's proposal to team up.  "You gotta be kidding me," remarks Huntress in a voiceover.

In a different scene, Harley jumps up and smashes the knees of a mob guy who has his feet propped up on a table.

As the team gets ready to fight, Harley seems very excited, telling the others, "Isn't this fun?  It's just like a sleepover.  We should order pizza.  Make Cosmos."  In response, Black Canary tells her to focus.

In another scene, Harley is wearing a large purple hat and coat, grinning in a very Joker-like fashion as she shoots a police officer with a beanbag gun.

"I'm the one they should be scared of!" Harley remarks as we see her escaping from jail as emergency water sprinklers pour down from the ceiling, followed by a montage of fleeting Harley moments.  "Not you!  Not Mister J!  Because I'm Harley freakin' Quinn!"

"Whoo!" exclaims Sionis as we see Dinah singing in the background.  "Who's having a good time?"

"Get ready, ladies..." says Harley as we see her, Black Canary and Huntress in action, followed by Harley in front of an explosion of fireworks as the film's cast list surrounds her.

In the trailer's final scene, we find Harley and Cassandra in a car, with Harley driving.  "Oh, you're that psycho chick," quips Cassandra.

"You never call a woman a chick," replies Harley.  "I'll accept broad, lady, woman, and on occasion, bitch."

"Bitch?  What are you talking about?"

"Toss that for me, will ya?" asks Harley as she hands Cassandra a stick of dynamite to toss out the passenger window at a nearby car.  The dynamite explodes as Harley laughs.

If you'd like to check out the trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official Warner Bros. Pictures account on YouTube...



Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is expected to arrive in theaters on February 7, 2020.

HARLEY QUINN Casts Kaley Cuoco as Harley, Releases First Look Trailer

Harley Quinn just returned fire at Deadpool.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the world premiere screening of DC Universe's series Titans at New York Comic Con featured actress Kaley Cuoco, who announced that she's starring in the streaming service's upcoming animated series Harley Quinn, based on the DC Comics character.

Cuoco, 32, is best known as Penny on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and has appeared in the movies The Wedding Ringer and Virtuosity. Her other TV appearances include episodes of Prison Break, Charmed, Northern Exposure, 8 Simple Rules, The Ellen Show, Ellen, and My So-Called Life.

Announced back in November 2017, Harley Quinn is a new adult animated comedy that follows Harley’s adventures after she breaks up with the Joker and strikes out on her own. With the help of Poison Ivy and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, Harley tries to earn a seat at the biggest table in villainy: the Legion of Doom.

The voice cast also includes Lake Bell (Wet Hot American Summer) as Poison Ivy, Diedrich Bader (Veep) as Batman, Alan Tudyk (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Ron Funches (Powerless), JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Wanda Sykes (Black-ish), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Natalie Morales (Bojack Horseman), Jim Rash (Community), Tony Hale (Veep) and Chris Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

In addition, the announcement featured a 50-second "first look" teaser trailer for Harley Quinn, featuring Cuoco's Harley and her gal pal Poison Ivy inside Arkham Asylum, breaking the fourth wall and directly addressing the New York Comic Con audience. In the trailer, Harley claims her new show "has got comedy, action, incredibly gratuitous violence, and unlike that Deadpool cartoon, it's actually comin' out." She also states "everyone in my show is gonna have fun or I will bash their f#@%ing heads in!"

At that moment, Batman drops down from outside to say "There's no fun in Arkham, Quinn," causing Harley to dismiss him as "a real buzzkill."

If you'd like to check out the first look trailer for Harley Quinn, you can view it below thanks to the official Warner Bros. TV account on YouTube...




Harley Quinn is expected to debut on DC Universe sometime in 2019.

DC Universe Streaming Service Reveals Details & Show Synopses

CBR is reporting Warner Bros. has announced more specific details for DC Universe, their upcoming digital subscription service that will feature new live-action and animated series, classic movies and TV shows, a selection of digital comics, and exclusive merchandise.

Beta access for DC Universe will begin in August 2018, with the service going live later in the fall.

The DC Comics selection will rotate and span decades of releases, from Action Comics #1 to recent stories.  The comics can be downloaded for reading on mobile devices.

Oh, look.  Here's the official press release...

DC UNIVERSE is a first-of-its kind digital subscription service that gives fans access to exclusive content and experiences not available anywhere else. With membership, fans will enjoy all-new original live-action and animated series, classic TV series and films, a curated selection of digital comic books, breaking news, an expansive DC-centric encyclopedia, and access to exclusive merchandise. Additional fan features include opportunities to connect with others in the DC community, earn premium rewards and participate in sweepstakes and contests.

“Developing new ways for consumers to access some of our most popular and iconic brands and franchises as well as exclusive new content whenever they want, on the devices they choose, is one of our studio’s top priorities,” said Craig Hunegs, president, Warner Bros. Digital Networks. “The DC UNIVERSE platform gives fans a place to tailor their experience and build a direct relationship with DC in a way they never could before.”

Members of DC UNIVERSE can:

• WATCH exclusive originals and classic favorites;
• READ from an extensive list of curated comic books;
• CONNECT with the DC community;
• EXPLORE the latest breaking news and the ever-expanding DC encyclopedia;
• WIN premium rewards and participate in sweepstakes and contests;
• SHOP for exclusive merchandise.

Fans can sign up today for an opportunity for beta access, which will open in August 2018. Beta access will give members a chance to test the new digital experience and provide valuable feedback on the early version of the service before it goes live later this fall 2018.

“DC UNIVERSE is so much more than a streaming service. It’s a welcoming place for everyone to immerse themselves in their own level of DC fandom, with the epic characters, stories, and experiences they have come to expect from DC,” said Jim Lee, chief creative officer and publisher, DC Entertainment. “We are investing in and creating original, high-quality shows including the new Titans series, and curating the most beloved nostalgic content, while at the same time elevating the comic reading experience to new heights. Nothing this robust has ever been offered to fans before.”

WATCH

At the heart of DC UNIVERSE will be all-new exclusive original live-action and animated series based on DC’s iconic characters. Developed by Warner Bros. Television, Swamp Thing and Doom Patrol are scheduled to debut in 2019, following the dramatic, live-action adventure series Titans which premieres later this year. Warner Bros. Animation is also developing a slate of animated TV series based on existing fan favorites, including Harley Quinn and the highly anticipated third season of the popular Young Justice: Outsiders animated series which are both scheduled to debut in 2019.

• Titans follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Joining them along the way are the hot-headed Starfire and lovable Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes.

• Doom Patrol is a reimagining of one of DC’s strangest group of outcasts: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Woman and Crazy Jane. Led by the mysterious Dr. Niles Caulder they’re called into action by the ultimate hero for the digital age, Cyborg. Banding together these rejects find themselves on a mission that will take them to the weirdest and most unexpected corners of the DC universe.

• Swamp Thing follows Abby Arcane as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets. When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh, no one is safe.

• Young Justice: Outsiders features the return of the fan favorite animated series with a huge cast of DC’s most iconic young superheroes – plus brand-new characters, many of whom are just discovering their unique meta-powers and special abilities. Set against the backdrop of a rich, deep world that touches all corners of the DC universe, the season focuses on meta–trafficking, and an intergalactic arms race for control of these super–powered youths.

• Harley Quinn follows Harley’s adventures after she breaks up with the Joker and strikes out on her own in this new adult animated comedy. With the help of Poison Ivy and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, Harley tries to earn a seat at the biggest table in villainy: the Legion of Doom.

An assortment of DC’s most beloved superhero films will also be available at launch for exclusive streaming windows, including all four original Superman movies as well as a selection of epic animated movies including Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Green Lantern: First Flight, and Wonder Woman. The service will also feature classic TV shows, including the first two seasons of Batman: The Animated Series and the original Wonder Woman series available for the first time in HD.

READ

The DC UNIVERSE comics reader will include native, untethered access across devices from a smartphone or tablet to a living room screen rendered in vivid detail. Fans can scroll through some of their favorite comics from the comfort of their couch with family or friends and see this vibrant art form come to life like never before. A curated selection of thousands of DC comics will be available to DC UNIVERSE members from a library that includes decades of comics creations.

Members can read some of the most famous stories in comic book history such as the first 1938 Action Comics that introduced Superman to the world as well as Detective Comics #27 which first introduced Batman in 1939. Other titles include Geoff Johns and Jim Lee’s iconic Justice League (2011), Swamp Thing (2011) written by Scott Snyder, and Harley Quinn (2013) written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. Rotating selections will cater to both members new to comics and passionate fans looking for hard-to-find titles. Comics can also be downloaded for reading offline on a smartphone or tablet.

“We wanted the DC UNIVERSE comic reader to be a blend of art and technology that would further enhance fan’s experiences of the live-action and animated programming on DC UNIVERSE,” said Dan DiDio, publisher, DC Entertainment. “This hand-curated selection from our decades of comic creations gives fans a thematic digital longbox to carry with them on the device of their choosing or lets them watch exclusive video content on a big screen followed by the comic that inspired it.”

CONNECT

The community within DC UNIVERSE will be a place where members can rate, create and share their own personalized playlists of their favorite heroes and villains. Members can personalize their profile and select their own avatar, be it Superman, Wonder Woman, or another heroic character or symbol. Designed to be a place for finding commonality and sharing favorite rivalries or the latest list of must-read comic books, members will have a forum for posting information, finding friendship and sharing their DC passions in a shared, moderated space within DC UNIVERSE.

EXPLORE & WIN

Latest news, an extensive DC encyclopedia, and chances to win round out the membership benefits of DC UNIVERSE. Short-form news, interviews and previews in daily video segments will keep fans up-to-date on the latest from all corners of the DC universe. The ever-expanding DC encyclopedia, to which fans can contribute, will house bios of hundreds of DC characters and places. In addition, members will have chances to win premium rewards, including game unlocks, first-chance access to pop-culture events, exclusive experiences and more.

SHOP

Exclusively for DC UNIVERSE members, DC Collectibles—the award-winning line of collectibles from DC Entertainment—will offer a wide range of new action figures and collector’s items based on DC’s iconic characters and stories. Members will have exclusive access to all-new six-inch Justice League Animated action figures based on designs from the fan-favorite animated series (2001-2004), starting in fall 2018. In addition to DC Collectibles, members will have access to a wide range of exclusive, curated and hard-to-find DC merchandise from a variety of licensing partners before the rest of the world.

The operation of DC UNIVERSE will be managed by Sam Ades, general manager and senior vice president, Warner Bros. Digital Network, based in Burbank. The digital media executive formerly served as the senior vice president, direct to consumer, for DC Entertainment, where he was responsible for creating and executing DC’s digital marketing strategy.

DC UNIVERSE will be available at launch on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV, as well as the web and mobile web. To learn more and register for an opportunity for beta access, visit dcuniverse.com and follow DC UNIVERSE on social networks including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Cathy Yan to Direct BIRDS OF PREY Film with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn

The Birds of Prey are facing off against Harley Quinn once again...This time, on the big screen.

Deadline is reporting that Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have selected Cathy Yan to be the director of an untitled DC Comics "girl gang movie," based on DC's Birds of Prey series.  The film is expected to feature the return of Margot Robbie as her Suicide Squad movie character Harley Quinn, and was known to be in development back in May 2016.

According to the article, the deal isn't completed, but Yan is expected to become the second DC Extended Universe filmmaker after Wonder Woman's Patty Jenkins, and the first female Asian director to direct a superhero film.  Yan reportedly got the job over numerous male directors, after an "exceptional" presentation for Birds of Prey.  Robbie also expressed her desire for the film to be directed by a woman.

The film is expected to start production by the end of 2018 or early next year, with a script by Christina Hodson, who was just brought in to write the Batgirl movie, and also wrote the Transformers spinoff Bumblebee.  Other Harley Quinn films are reportedly still in development, including the Suicide Squad sequel to be directed by Gavin O’Connor.  Two others, Harley Quinn vs The Joker and Gotham City Sirens with Suicide Squad director David Ayer, appeared to be less of a priority at the moment.

Yan was born in China, and raised in Hong Kong and Washington, D.C.  She has directed a number of short films and the movie Dead Pigs, starring Deadpool's Zazie Beetz.  In addition, she was write and co-executive producer of the TV series UnChartered.

Created in 1992 by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley Quinn first appeared in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor," voiced by Arleen Sorkin.  Initially intended as a female sidekick for The Joker, Harley quickly became popular with fans and the character was developed further.  In the 1994 DC Comics graphic novel The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, Quinn received her origin story, revealing her as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who fell in love with the Joker and turned to a life of crime in order to be with him.

The Birds of Prey were created in 1995 by Chuck Dixon, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, and Gary Frank, and first appeared in Black Canary/Oracle: Birds of Prey #1 as a crimefighting partnership between Black Canary and Oracle, who previously was the superhero Batgirl until she was paralyzed by The Joker.  

The pairing soon expanded to include other DC heroes, primarily female, including The Huntress, Lady Blackhawk, Power Girl, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Big Barda, Gypsy, Hawkgirl, Misfit, Hawk and Dove, Black Alice, Vixen, Katana, Manhunter (Kate Spencer), Judomaster (Sonia Sato), Starling, and Strix.

In 2002, The WB adapted Birds of Prey for television, starring Dina Meyer as Oracle, Ashley Scott as Huntress, and Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Redmond, the daughter of Black Canary.  Set in a Gotham City abandoned by Batman, the Birds of Prey faced off against Harley Quinn (Mia Sara) and other DC supervillains such as Lady Shiva and Clayface.

SUICIDE SQUAD: HELL TO PAY Animated Film Cast Announced

If you're a Suicide Squad fan, there's going to be hell to pay. 

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed the voice cast for Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay, the upcoming Warner Bros. Animation film based on the DC Comics antihero superteam. 

According to the article, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay "sees Amanda Waller's secret team Task Force X (consisting of Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Killer Frost, Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn and Copperhead) sent to retrieve a powerful mystical object that they will risk their lives to steal. Unfortunately for the Suicide Squad, there are other villains who want the prize, and they must win a race to get it, in order to stay alive."

And here's the full cast list:

Deadshot - Christian Slater
Bronze Tiger - Billy Brown
Captain Boomerang - Liam McIntyre
Killer Frost - Kristin Bauer van Straten
Copperhead - Gideon Emery
Harley Quinn - Tara Strong
Amanda Waller - Vanessa Williams
Zoom - C. Thomas Howell
Scandal Savage - Dania Ramirez
Professor Pyg - James Urbaniak
Silver Banshee - Julie Nathanson
Vandal Savage and (Count) Vertigo - Jim Pirri
Maxum Steel - Greg Grunberg
Blockbuster and Tobias Whale - Dave Fennoy
Knockout - Cissy Jones
Dharma - Natalie Lander
Punch - Trevor Devall
Two-Face - Dave Boat

 This will be the third time the Suicide Squad will appear in an animated project, after the Justice League Unlimited episode "Task Force X" and the animated film Batman: Assault on Arkham.

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay is expected to be released on blu-ray, DVD, and digital sometime in Spring 2018.

DC Digital Service Orders HARLEY QUINN Adult Animated Series

The DC Comics digital service is getting a bit more animated.

Deadline reported that the still-unnamed DC Comics digital service has given a straight-to-series order for 26 episodes of a half-hour adult animated series based on popular DC Comics character Harley Quinn.  The series is the third DC Comics adaptation to receive a greenlight from the upcoming digital service, after the revived animated series Young Justice: Outsiders and the live-action series Titans.

According to the article, Harley Quinn will "also feature Poison Ivy and a cast of heroes and villains — old and new — from the DC universe."  The animated series follows Harley, who "finally has broken things off with the Joker once and for all and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City."

The article also mentions that Australian actress Margot Robbie, who portrayed the character in the 2016 film Suicide Squad, is "at the top of Warner Bros.’ wish list for actresses to voice the title character in the animated series, and she is expected to be approached for the gig."

Harley Quinn will be from Powerless executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey via Warner Bros. Animation.  Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, will also serve as executive producer. Jennifer Coyle (DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year) will be a producer with Halpern and Schumacker’s Ehsugadee Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation.

The project is still in development, so the above artwork from Harley Quinn comic book artist Amanda Conner may not be representative of the series' final design.

DC Rebirth: One Year Later

It's been one year since DC Comics relaunched their fictional universe with all-new number one issues in what they called "DC Rebirth."  After looking at the Top 300 Comics sales list for May 2017, I thought it might be interesting to see how well the latest DC Universe relaunch is performing in the long term.

As expected, the big winner of the DC Rebirth relaunch is Batman.  As one of DC's biweekly titles, Batman had the unenviable task of following an incredible run by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo during The New 52 era, but writer Tom King and rotating artists David Finch and Mikel Janin have more than proven themselves.  Issues #22 and #23 charted at #3 and #7 respectively in the Top 300, although #22 was part of "The Button" crossover storyline with The Flash that featured an lenticular cover.  

And speaking of The Flash, that series is definitely the surprise winner of DC Rebirth. Issues #22 and #23 chart at #4 and #23 respectively, with The Flash #22 featuring "The Button" crossover with Batman and a lenticular cover.  The creative team of Joshua Williamson and Carmine Di Giandomenico have been positively killing it, a welcome improvement from The New 52, where the title languished around the Top 50 mark.

All-Star Batman, from Scott Snyder and various artists, has also been strong and charts at #15, an impressive feat considering the book costs $4.99 a month.  Unfortunately, the title is ending with issue #14 this September, presumably because Snyder is moving on to New Challengers later this year, which means DC will lose one of its strongest sellers.

Detective Comics also does well, proving fans can't get enough of Batman books as long as they're done decently.  Issues #956 and #957 come in at #19 and #20 on the Top 300, showing that the idea to feature Batman and a team of Batman-related heroes was a good one.  It's a shame though, that Batwoman does well as a team member here but her solo series only comes in at #81.

After the main Batman titles, Justice League turns up in the #21 and #22 position, apparently showing a little fatigue after spending most of Rebirth's first year around the Top 10 spot. Writer Bryan Hitch has received considerable criticism online from fans tired of the rather dull and lifeless storylines without recognizable villains, so perhaps some of them are finally giving up on the series.  #21 and #22 is still nothing to sneeze at though, so I wouldn't expect a creative change any time soon.

Thankfully, Superman is close behind, with issues #22 and #23 charting at #25 and #28 on the Top 300.  Writer Peter Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason continue performing as a solid creative team after their terrific work on Batman and Robin as part of The New 52.  DC Rebirth has been wonderful to Superman fans, restoring the Pre-Flashpoint Superman with Lois as his wife and the addition of Jon Kent, a.k.a. Superboy.  Who knew that making Superman a cool dad was exactly what the character needed?

Another big surprise is Titans, which charts at #31 for issue #11.  Dan Abnett seems to be the first writer since Geoff Johns to really "get" the Titans, as he successfully balances the superteam heroics with the awareness that the team's close friendship with one another feels like family.  The art by Brett Booth could be better, especially with his rather cartoonish facial depictions, but as with Justice League, DC isn't about to mess with the creative team as long as the sales hold up.

As for the rest, there are only a few standouts of note.  Wonder Woman got a creative boost from Greg Rucka and Liam Sharp, but the creators' final issue arrived this week and replacement writer James Robinson won't arrive for another six issues.  Dan Jurgens has been telling solid Superman stories once again in Action Comics, while Dan Abnett has been doing some serious worldbuilding in Aquaman although sales haven't been kind. Hopefully, that will change with the stunning work from new artist Stjepan Šejić.

For anyone wondering, here are the DC Rebirth titles I started off with one year ago:

Action Comics                                                Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps
All-Star Batman                                              Harley Quinn
Aquaman                                                        Hellblazer
Batgirl                                                             Justice League
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey                           Nightwing                          
Batman                                                           Suicide Squad
Cyborg                                                            Supergirl
Deathstroke                                                    Superman
Detective Comics                                            Superwoman
The Flash                                                        Teen Titans
Green Arrow                                                    Titans
Green Lanterns                                               Wonder Woman

And now, here are the DC Rebirth titles I'm currently getting, with new additions in bolded italics:

Action Comics                                                 Hellblazer
All-Star Batman                                              Justice League
Aquaman                                                        Justice League of America
Batman                                                           Nightwing
Batwoman                                                     Suicide Squad                     
Batman                                                           Supergirl
Cyborg                                                            Superman
Deathstroke                                                    Teen Titans
Detective Comics                                            Titans
The Flash                                                        Wonder Woman                                                

An overall net loss of four books, but pretty much consistent.  The most noticeable losses here are both Green Lantern titles, which continue being unable to meet the high bar set by Geoff Johns before Flashpoint, and both Batgirl titles, which aren't as strong as Gail Simone's or even Cameron Stewart and Brent Fletcher's runs in The New 52.  Harley Quinn is exactly the same book I ended up dropping during The New 52 and the lower sales are beginning to reflect that I'm not the only one who wants a change.  

The good news about DC Rebirth is that one year later, none of the original books have been cancelled.  (Okay, All-Star Batman is ending, but that seems more of a creative decision rather than sales.)  However, the bad news is that a number of titles emphasizing diversity have failed to catch on and probably won't make it to 2018, such as Cyborg, Blue Beetle, New Super-Man, and Superwoman.  Also, DC still hasn't figured out that the only Hellblazer we want to read involves top-notch British creators telling stories of true horror that aren't watered down with "swearing" using skull symbols.  It seems odd though, that DC doesn't have anything lined up to replace these books yet, unless you count their upcoming Dark Matter line with the aforementioned New Challengers and Jim Lee's The Immortal Men.

Oh, and I should mention that the main reason DC Rebirth is performing so well is probably due to the superb initial offering of DC Universe: Rebirth #1, followed by more of DC recapturing what their readers enjoyed prior to The New 52.  Unlike Marvel, which remains clueless about what its core readership actually wants, DC learned from the mistakes of The New 52 and addressed those mistakes with an engaging mystery woven throughout the Rebirth era.  Even better, there's still more to come, with Geoff Johns wrapping up that mystery in Doomsday Clock, Snyder and Capullo returning for the Metal event, and teasing hints that the Justice Society of America and the Legion of Super-Heroes will finally be back in play relatively soon.

Once again, it's a great time to be a DC Comics fan.  On to Year Two!

BATMAN AND HARLEY QUINN Animated Film Cast Announced

Fans of the classic Harley Quinn rejoice!

Empire has revealed the principal voice cast for Batman and Harley Quinn, a new DC Comics animated movie direct to home video, executive produced by Bruce Timm and in his classic animation style that began with 1992's Batman: The Animated Series.

According to the article, Batman and Harley Quinn will feature "the reluctant team-up of Batman, Nightwing and Harley Quinn to try and stop a global catastrophe caused by Poison Ivy and Jason Woodrue, AKA the Plant-Master."

Kevin Conroy will once again voice Batman, after his previous work in Batman: The Killing Joke.  Loren Lester will reprise his character Nightwing, whom he originated as Robin with Conroy on Batman: The Animated Series.

"So many fans have asked when there will be another Batman: The Animated Series," said Lester, "and this film really captures that sensibility and essence that people loved about the original series.  That makes perfect sense when you know Bruce Timm was at the helm of both.  The difference is we're not restricted by the networks for this film, so we can take the story and characters in more mature areas, and explore more about them as three-dimensional human beings with human feelings and human desires that we often couldn’t explore in the series."

As for Harley Quinn herself, she will be voiced by Melissa Rauch.  Rauch is best known as Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and appeared as Summer on the HBO series True Blood.

"I love that Harley is a badass and, beyond that, that she uses her humor as another weapon in her arsenal," said Rauch.  "She knows just how to diffuse a situation with her humor, and how to incite a situation with her sarcasm.  It's a dream role."

Regarding Harley's voice, she added, "I knew Harley had a higher pitched tone, and a bit of a New York accent — and I come from a New Jersey family where everyone could be former gun molls.  So I wanted to give a nod to my background without being as shrill.  In all honesty, I used to speak exactly like that — my acting school professors really worked the accent out of me.  So it was fun to find those tones and accent again."

Paget Brewster will voice Poison Ivy, after previously voicing Lana Lang in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Lois Lane in Justice League: Gods and Monsters.  

Additional cast members include John DiMaggio, Eric Bauza, Rob Paulsen, Robin Atkin Downes, Mindy Sterling, and Trevor Devall.

Batman and Harley Quinn will be released on digital download, Blu-ray and DVD sometime this summer.

Margot Robbie & David Ayer Return for GOTHAM CITY SIRENS Movie

Harley Quinn is back...and she's bringing her director with her. 

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie's next appearance as DC Comics character Harley Quinn will be in Gotham City Sirens, a feature film starring the top female villains from the DC Universe.

The project, first reported in May, will be directed and produced by David Ayer, who directed Robbie in this year's movie adaptation of Suicide Squad.  According to the article, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, writer of the Tomb Raider remake and Sherlock Holmes 3, is writing the screenplay.  Robbie is also executive producing the film, and DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and Jon Berg will also serve as producers.

The article also claims that Warner Bros. is still developing a Suicide Squad sequel as well as looking into a spinoff featuring Deadshot, the assassin character played by Will Smith.

Created in 2009, Gotham City Sirens was an ongoing series written by Paul Dini, co-creator of Harley Quinn, and drawn by Guillem March that explored the characters of Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman.  When Catwoman fights a new villain named "Boneblaster", it was revealed she still had physical limitations from her ordeal in the Batman storyline "Heart of Hush" and was almost easily beaten by the two-bit thug.  However, Poison Ivy arrived to save Catwoman and offered the two return to her new hideout, which was actually the Riddler's hideout, whom Poison Ivy had seduced and drugged.  Catwoman also discovered Harley Quinn was also living with them, and proposed that the three women join together to protect one another as a team.

Gotham City Sirens currently doesn't have a release date, but the project is nreportedly on the fast track at Warner Bros.

Margot Robbie Signs Deal to Co-Produce HARLEY QUINN Spinoff Movie

Warner Bros. is going all in on Harley Quinn.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed yesterday that Australian actress Margot Robbie has signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. that includes a Suicide Squad spinoff for her character Harley Quinn (and other DC Comics heroines).

The project was originally reported in May, with claims that Robbie was the driving force for the project.  Apparently, when she landed the part for Suicide Squad, she heavily researched the comics to learn as much as possible about the character.  In the process, she reportedly became a fan of DC’s female characters.  Robbie brought on the female writer to help develop the project and brought it to Warner Bros.

Robbie will develop and produce feature films through her LuckyChap Entertainment banner.  Producing and developing with Robbie will be her LuckyChap partners Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr.

According to the article, Robbie and LuckyChap are in postproduction on their first movie as producers, a neo noir thriller called Terminal.  In addition, LuckyChap is developing and producing a Tonya Harding biopic, I, Tonya, where Robbie will play the disgraced figure skater, and is developing an adaptation of Bad Monkeys, a novel by Matt Ruff, along with Bluegrass Films’ Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark for Universal Pictures.

Robbie, 26, best known as Naomi Lapaglia in the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street and as Laura Cameron on the short-lived ABC television series Pan Am.  Her other films include The Big Short, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and The Legend of Tarzan.

Created in 1992 by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley Quinn first appeared in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor," voiced by Arleen Sorkin.  Initially intended as a female sidekick for The Joker, Harley quickly became popular with fans and the character was developed further.  In the 1994 DC Comics graphic novel The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, Quinn received her origin story, revealing her as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who fell in love with the Joker and turned to a life of crime in order to be with him.

The character's first comic book appearance was in 1993's The Batman Adventures #12, but Harley's growing popularity encouraged DC Comics to bring her into official Batman canon starting with Batman (vol.1) #570 in 1999.  She soon received her first ongoing series in 2001 that ran for 38 issues and was made a member of the Suicide Squad starting with 2011's Suicide Squad (vol.4) #1.  Harley received her second ongoing series in 2013 and her third in 2016 as part of DC Comics' relaunch known as Rebirth.

HARLEY QUINN Movie with DC's Female Characters in Development

Another round of Harley Quinn vs. the Birds of Prey?  Maybe.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Warner Bros. is considering a spinoff of the upcoming film adaptation of Suicide Squad with Margot Robbie returning as fan-favorite Harley Quinn.

According to the article, Robbie would also produce the untitled spinoff, which would also feature several of DC Comics' female superheroes and supervillains.  The project has a female screenwriter, and while details are sketchy at this point, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey may be involved somehow.

The article also claims that Robbie was the driving force for the project.  Apparently, when she landed the part for Suicide Squad, she heavily researched the comics to learn as much as possible about the character.  In the process, she reportedly became a fan of DC’s female characters.  Robbie brought on the female writer to help develop the project and brought it to Warner Bros.

Created in 1992 by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley Quinn first appeared in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor," voiced by Arleen Sorkin.  Initially intended as a female sidekick for The Joker, Harley quickly became popular with fans and the character was developed further.  In the 1994 DC Comics graphic novel The Batman Adventures: Mad Love, Quinn received her origin story, revealing her as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who fell in love with the Joker and turned to a life of crime in order to be with him.

The character's first comic book appearance was in 1993's The Batman Adventures #12, but Harley's growing popularity encouraged DC Comics to bring her into official Batman canon starting with Batman (vol.1) #570 in 1999.  She soon received her first ongoing series in 2001 that ran for 38 issues and was made a member of the Suicide Squad starting with 2011's Suicide Squad (vol.3) #1.  Harley received her second ongoing series in 2013, which still continues to be a Top Ten book in terms of sales.

If Harley faces off or teams up with the Birds of Prey, this will be their second on-screen encounter, after Mia Sara portrayed Harley Quinn on the 2002-03 Birds of Prey television series as the Big Bad for the series' single season.