Birds of Prey Report Teases Actors in the Running for Lead Roles
The DC Extended Universe has been rather unpredictable lately, but it sounds like Warner Bros. is trying to get the massive superhero project back on track. Today, it was revealed that the studio has produced a short list of actors it is considering for leads in the upcoming Birds of Prey. A final decision about the core cast is expected in the next two weeks.
Perhaps the most important role in Bids of Prey is Black Canary. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who appeared in the recent A Wrinkle in Time big screen adaptation, and Jurnee Smolett-Bell, the lead in the upcoming series Lovecraft Country, are currently the two in the running for the role.
Black Canary is typically depicted as white but, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is looking to bring diverse talent to the role. Janelle Monae of Hidden Figures is also said to be in the running for the role, though Mbatha-Raw and Smolett-Bell are the preferred choices.
RELATED: DCEU’s Birds of Prey Working Title Revealed
News of Mbatha-Raw, Smolett-Bell and Monae’s consideration is in step with prior rumors that cropped up last month claiming that Warner Bros. was seeking a biracial Black Canary.
Margaret Qualley of HBO’s The Leftovers is currently in running to play Huntress, as is Mary Elizabeth Winstead of 10 Cloverfield Lane and Fargo fame. Black Mirror‘s Cristin Milioti is also said to be testing for the role.
The role of Renee Montoya could go to Justina Machado or Roberta Colindrez. Machado is best known for her starring role in the Netflix series One Day at a Time, while Colindrez has appeared in Amazon’s I Love Dick and Starz’s Vida.
While there’s no concrete information on who might play the young assassin Cassandra Cain, it is reported that the studio is looking turn the character in a 12-year-old and is seeking an Asian actor for the role.
RELATED: With Cassandra Cain, Birds of Prey Movie Should Take a Page From Logan
The role of Harley Quinn has already been decided, of course. Margot Robbie, who played the character in Suicide Squad, will reprise her role as the Clown Princess of Crime. Robbie will also be producing the film alongside Sue Kroll and Bryan Unkeless.
The casting information follows on the heels of another report that claimed the film’s antagonist would be Black Mask, a villain who squandered his wealth so fabulously that he eventually turned to a life of crime, rising to become one of the chief crime kingpins in the DC Universe.
A release date for Birds of Prey has yet to be announced. Cathy Yan is attached to direct the film.
