Margot Robbie reveals โThe Penguin Wasโ Originally Slated for ‘Birds of Prey’
los Angeles, CA – Actress Margotโ Robbie recently disclosedโ a behind-the-scenes detail about the 2020โ film birds of Prey, โฃrevealingโข that The โPenguin was initially envisioned as the primary antagonist before a change in plans. The revelation came during a conversation with Colin Farrell, who would later embody the iconic villain in Mattโค Reeves’ The Batman โฃ (2022) and itsโฃ forthcoming spin-off series, โฃ The โฃPenguin.
Initial Plans for a Penguin-Led Conflict
According โto Robbie, the first draft of the Birds โฃof Prey script, penned by Christina Hodson, โฃfeatured The Penguin as the central villain.Though, director Matt Reeves intervened, requesting the character be reserved for his developing Batman โขuniverse. โคThis led to the โsubstitution ofโ black Mask, portrayed โฃby Ewan McGregor, as โขthe film’s antagonist. “The first draft that Christina [Hodson] wrote of Birds โof Prey, the villain was The Penguin,” Robbie explained to Farrell in an interview with Entertainment weekly.”And then[[[[The Batman โdirector/writer]Matt Reeves said, ‘Don’t use the Penguin. I’m going to โuse him in my thing.’ And so we swapped it to blackโฃ Mask [played by Ewan McGregor].”
Did you know that โคcreative decisions like โthis are common in filmmaking, frequently enough influencedโ by broader franchise strategies?
Robbie’s Harley Quinn and โขthe DC Universe
Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn has become a defining role forโฃ the actress, spanning multipleโ DC films including Suicide squad (2016) and Birds of Prey (2020). Her future within the DC โขUniverseโฃ remains a topic of speculation, especially following James Gunn’s restructuring of the franchise. Gunn โrecently โคindicated that Robbie’sโค continued involvement as Harley Quinn will be “revealed down the โขline.”
The current DC Universe is divided into distinctโ continuities: the ‘Gods andโข monsters’ era spearheaded byโ Gunn, and Reeves’ ‘Batman Epic โCrime Saga.’ The latter includes The Batman and the HBO Max series the โPenguin, which premiered last year.

Production Updates on ‘Theโ Batman Part II’
Production on The Batman Part II is slatedโ to commence in the spring. This followsโ a delay announced in December โ2024, pushing the film’s release date to October โข1, 2027. Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin completed the script in June 2025, โsignaling โขprogress despite the scheduling adjustments. Gunn previously addressedโฃ concerns regarding the โฃdelays, emphasizing โฃthe importance of deliveringโฃ a high-quality film.
| Film | Release Date | director |
|---|---|---|
| Birds of Prey | Febuary 7, 2020 | Cathy Yan |
| The Batman | March 4, 2022 | Matt Reeves |
| Theโ Penguin (Series) | September 8, 2024 | Matt Reeves |
| The batman Part II | October 1, 2027 | Matt Reeves |
Proโข Tip: Understanding the interconnectedness of โขcinematic universes can enhance your thankfulness for thes films and the creative choices behindโฃ them.
With multiple projects in development, how do you think these interconnected DC storylines will ultimately unfold?
The Evolving Landscape of DC Films
The โDC Universe โคhas undergone notable transformations in recentโฃ years, marked by shifts in leadership and creative direction. The appointment โof James Gunn as co-CEO of DC Studios signaled โคa commitment toโฃ a cohesive and interconnected universe,โ whileโค Matt Reeves’ ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga’ represents aโฃ more grounded andโข noir-inspired approach. These parallel paths demonstrate the studio’s willingness to explore diverse โคstorytelling styles within โthe same franchise. The success of โฃ The Penguin series on HBO Max highlights theโฃ potential for expanding the โคDC universe beyond theโ theatrical realm, offering deeper dives into individual characters and storylines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Margot โRobbie and the DC Universe
- What roleโ did Margot โRobbie playโค inโ the DC Universe? Margot Robbie isโ best knownโ for her portrayal of Harley Quinn in several DC films.
- Was The โฃPenguin originally intended for ‘Birds of Prey’? Yes,initial drafts of the script featured The Penguin as the main villain.
- Who directed ‘The Batman’? Matt Reeves โขdirected The Batman (2022) and is also overseeing the ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga.’
- What isโข James Gunn’s role in the DC Universe? โค James Gunn is co-CEO of DC Studios โand is leading โthe development of the ‘Gods and Monsters’ era of DC films.
- When is ‘Theโฃ Batman Part โคII’ scheduled for release? The Batman Part II is currently scheduled โfor release on October 1, 2027.
We hope you enjoyed thisโข insightfulโข look โinto the making of theseโค iconic films! Share this article with fellow โคDC fans and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe to world-today-news.com for the latest entertainment news and updates.