CATHY YAN TO DIRECT HARLEY QUINN SPINOFF

Yan is the first Asian woman to helm a movie from the superhero comic franchise’s universe

Cathy Yan will be directing the spinoff movie based on the character of Harley Quinn, which was played by Margot Robbie in Suicide Squad (2016).

Robbie, 27, will reprise the role of the crazed supervillain in the new film. The character debuted in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) ensemble movie Suicide Squad (2016), alongside Jared Leto’s Joker. Following it, Robbie and director David Ayer were confirmed to be developing a spin-off film, tentatively titled Gotham City Sirens with Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa in talks to helm the project.

Yan, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who made her directorial debut with the dark comedy Dead Pigs which released earlier this year, will be the second female filmmaker to helm a DC film, after Patty Jenkins, and the first Asian woman to helm a movie from the comic franchise’s universe, reported Variety. The script of the film, reportedly titled Birds of Prey, is still being worked on.

The screenplay has been penned by Christina Hodson, who has written Bumblebee, and was last week roped in to write for the Batgirl film.

Robbie, who is in negotiations to play Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, will also produce the project, along with Sue Kroll and Bryan Unkeless.

MARGOT ROBBIE WILL REPRISE HER ROLE OF THE SUPERVILLAIN FROM THE 2016 ENSEMBLE MOVIE SUICIDE SQUAD, AND BUMBLEBEE WRITER CHRISTINA HODSON WILL PEN THE SCRIPT

Margot Robbie, who last played Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, is also producing the film

Cathy Yan