The Birds of Prey have been around for more than two decades, yet some people are still unsure of who will be fighting alongside Harley Quinn in the upcoming film. We’re breaking down who the team is.
Fans everywhere are so excited for the return of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn to the silver screen, and the anticipation for the Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is at an all-time high. With that being said, it’s safe to say there are still a lot of people out there who are not sure who the Birds of Prey are.
This confusion is fair given they are not as well known as the Justice League or Suicide Squad, but they are just as formidable if not more so at times. They have been featured in several comic book series, miniseries, and special editions published by DC Comics since 1996. The Birds of Prey also had their own series on The WB back in the early 2000s that reappeared during the Crisis on Infinite Earth crossover in The CW’s popular Arrowverse on TV.
In the comics, they are a femme force to be reckoned with, consisting of more than 20 total members over time, including former heroes. Throughout their illustrious history, their core members included Batgirl, Black Canary, and Huntress. However, the DCEU film’s lineup will look a bit different.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn will be leading the group for its big-screen debut. The Suicide Squad standout has kicked the Joker to the curb, and during this transition, she really needs the support of her new friends right now. Instead of hitting the spa together, they’ll be fighting back against the criminal underworld of Gotham City, and the lovely ladies joining her are not ones to be underestimated.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell will play Dinah Lance, aka Black Canary. Lance is one of the best hand-to-hand combatants in the entire DC universe. Lance is also known for her sonic “Canary Cry” power, which can shatter glass as well as burst an eardrum or two. This power is slightly hinted at in the Birds of Prey trailer when Lance is on stage singing and a martini glass begins to shake.
Joining them will be Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, a character known for her generally violent tactics and her trademark weapon, the crossbow. There have been several iterations of this character within the DC world. Birds of Prey will show her as former mafia princess Helena Bertinelli, who, at a young age, was the only survivor of a mob hits on her family. This has led her to become a vigilante worthy of rolling with Harley Quinn.
Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez will portray Gotham City Police Department Detective Renee Montoya. Montoya was initially created for Batman: The Animated Series and has since been depicted in several Batman titles from live-action TV shows to video games.
In the comics, Renee is one of DC’s most prominent gay characters, and at one point, she became The Question. There’s no question she is a perfect choice to join the Birds of Prey team.
Rounding out the Birds of Prey will be Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain. In the comics, she is the daughter of deadly assassins known as David Cain and the infamous Lady Shiva. She inevitably became a child prodigy, raised to become an assassin. It’s also worth noting that Cain is one of several characters to take up the mantle of Batgirl.
The film seems to be introducing its own version of the character. In the movie, Cain steals a diamond from the film’s narcissistic antagonist, and he places a hit on her. Knowing the imminent danger Cain is in, the Birds of Prey must ban together to protect her from the evil psychopath.
The bad guy in the film will be none other than the famous Batman villain Black Mask. The sadistic Gotham crime lord also goes by the name Roman Sionis and will be played by Ewan McGregor in the film. Given what we know about the heroes he’ll be going up against, it’s safe to say Black Mask will have his hands full with the Birds of Prey.
Now that everyone’s privy to everything there is to know about the DCEU’s Birds of Prey lineup, there shouldn’t be anything left stopping fans from checking out the Cathy Yan-directed movie. Mark your calendars because Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn will arrive in theaters on Feb. 7.
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