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Gunn says Harley Quinn will appear in DCU, with or without Margot Robbie

The DC Studios co-head said on his podcast he would 'bend over backwards' to bring Robbie back, but is unsure she wants the role.

By idly intel

2 min read

AI-assisted
Written by idly intel with AI help from several outlets' reporting, and checked before it goes live. How idly works
Image: IGN India

Key facts

Story
  • James Gunn says Harley Quinn is almost certain to appear in the DC Universe.
  • He said he would work hard to include Margot Robbie if she wants to return as Harley.
  • Gunn said he is unsure Robbie is interested and may recast the role if she is not.

James Gunn has said Harley Quinn is almost certain to appear in the DC Universe, and that Margot Robbie would be welcome to return to the role. The DC Studios co-head made the comments on a new episode of his podcast on 30 October 2026.

Gunn said he would "bend over backwards" to write Robbie's Harley into the new universe if she wants to play her again. "I don't know where Margot's head is with all of this," he said. "Harley is a character I'm almost certainly going to use in the DCU."

If Robbie is not interested, Gunn said he may cast someone else. "I don't know if she wants to play Harley again," he said. "She may be over that." He added that a new actor would mean he would not have to tie the character to what happens to Harley in Robbie's films.

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Robbie's history with the role

Robbie first played Harley Quinn in David Ayer's 2016 film Suicide Squad. She returned for Birds of Prey in 2020, and again in Gunn's 2021 film The Suicide Squad. All three films belong to the DC Extended Universe, which has now ended. Since then, Robbie has appeared in Babylon, Barbie and Wuthering Heights.

Gunn spoke about the episode of his podcast, The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?, which answered fan questions about which characters will carry over into the new DC Universe. Co-stars Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee joined the discussion. Holland said Robbie's fame has grown since 2016, and Gunn called her "one of my favorite actors to work with."

Other plans

Gunn said he would like to bring Deadshot into the DC Universe eventually. He also said a prequel series about the Polka-Dot Man has been discussed. On whether Bloodsport's kryptonite bullet strike on Superman counts as canon, he said it could.

He also gave an update on a planned series about Amanda Waller, to be led by Viola Davis. "Viola would like to continue," Gunn said. He said the team developed the show strongly but never greenlit it because it did not reach the standard they wanted. "That doesn't mean it's totally out of development."

Gunn has not said when Harley might appear in the DC Universe, or whether Robbie has agreed to return.

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Sources: Complex, IGN India

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