James Gunn recently addressed aHarley Quinncasting rumor for Matt Reeves’The Batmanuniverse, and I’m sad that Victoria Pedretti is not actually playing theDCcharacter. Ever since debuting inBatman: The Animated Series,Harley Quinn has seen her popularity skyrocket over the years. She has appeared in several major comic book stories and events, video games, animation, live-action, and more. It was withMargot Robbie’s Harley Quinnin 2016’sSuicide Squadthat the character really became a worldwide sensation, with many asking for that version to be aDCU canon character.
So far,James Gunn’s new DC Universehas yet to reveal its plans for Harley. The franchise’s creative chief has said in the past that he wants to work with Robbie again, but, at that time, there wereno plans for her to play Harley Quinn in a future project, nor for another actress to take over the role in the DCU. That said, there is another live-action franchise that could need a new Harley. Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne andThe Batmantrilogy will remain part ofDC’s Elseworlds movies, and a major Harley Quinn rumor for the franchise emerged.
James Gunn Debunked The Batman Universe Harley Quinn Casting Rumor
Victoria Pedretti Was The Actress In Question
The Batman - Part IIwas supposed to come out in October 2025. However, the movie was pushed back by a year due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. With the delay and the expansion of the franchise through more possible TV spinoffs like HBO’sThe Penguin, rumors have started to come out about which characters could be coming to the franchise. The most recent of themsuggested thatYoustar Victoria Pedretti was in talks to play Harley Quinn inThe Batmanuniverse, not directly naming which project the actress would appear in.
The Evidence Is Mounting That Robert Pattinson’s Batman Has Quit Gotham City
The Batman - Part II’s story has yet to be revealed; however, The Penguin makes it seem like Robert Pattinson’s Batman has left Gotham City.
That piqued my curiosity, asHarley Quinn could make sense for more projects than justThe Batman - Part II, such as the Arkham Asylum series that had reportedly been scrapped. However, before I could get my hopes up about a return to Arkham,James Gunn debunked the Harley Quinn rumor. When asked about the Victoria Pedretti casting rumor forThe Batmanuniverse, Gunn claimed, “It is not [true].” Interestingly, the director did not delve into whether Harley Quinn could be coming toThe Batmanuniverse soon, which could mean nothing, but I’m staying hopeful.
I’m Bummed Because Victoria Pedretti Would Make A Great Harley Quinn
Pedretti’s Past Roles Shows That She Would Be Perfect
While Gunn debunking the rumor is disappointing because Harley Quinn might not be coming toThe Batmanuniverse soon or at all, the worst part of it to me is that Victoria Pedretti is not in talks to play Harley. From the moment I heard the rumor, I was excited because of how the actress is such a perfect fit for the character.Netflix’sYouis the perfect show to explain why Pedretti has what it takes to play Harley Quinn. In the series, she played Love Quinn opposite Penn Badgley’s Joe Goldberg.
Evelyn Porter
Amazing Stories
Love started as a seemingly innocent character, with the show slowly peeling back her layers to reveal what would become an unpredictable killer. Pedretti was always on point in the role, being able to display the charismatic, insane, and dangerous aspects of the character that also perfectly match Harley Quinn. In theHauntingfranchise, where Pedretti appeared in two different roles, she cemented her status as a candidate for Harley. I believe that her turn as Nell inThe Haunting of Hill Housewas specifically great for that, asher character had the same curiosity and tragic spirit of Harley.
Will The Batman Universe Introduce Harley Quinn?
It Would Make Sense For The Franchise
Whether it is with Victoria Pedretti or someone else in the role, I’m convinced thatThe Batmanuniverse could see Harley Quinn debut before it is over. After all,The Batman’s endingdid introduce the franchise’s version of the Joker. While the character only had a couple of lines in the film, a deleted scene was later released, showing the best look we have at Barry Keoghan’s Joker. While not much is known of the version of the Batman villain,the Joker is at Arkham Asylum, and that could lead to Harley Quinn’s debut.
The Batman - Part IIor another project within the shared universe could adapt the classic story of how Harley and the Joker met, withKeoghan’s Batman villain manipulating and transforming doctor Harleen Quinzelinto her more famous self. The only key change I believe would need to be made is to tone down Harley Quinn a little.The Batmanuniverse is far too gritty and grounded for the usual version of Harley. However, since Matt Reeves helped develop a darker version of her recently forBatman: Caped Crusader, I’m sure he could makeHarley Quinnwork inThe Batmanuniverse.
The Batman
Cast
The Batman follows a young Bruce Wayne as he investigates a sadistic serial killer targeting key political figures in Gotham. As he delves deeper, he is confronted by the city’s hidden corruption and questions surrounding his own family’s legacy.
The Batman Part II
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve’s The Batman, released in 2022, and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with the HBO Max original Penguin series and sees the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
