Harley Quinn is one of the most interesting and prominent members of the DC Universe. Through dozens of TV shows and movies, Harley Quinn was observed from her abominable childhood all the way to her time with the Joker, and eventually as a solo supervillain. In these shows, she was depicted as a dumb blonde, or as Joker’s sidekick who gets pushed around and walked all over. When Margot Robbie reprised the role in 2016, she evolved Harley Quinn as a character because it was the first time critics saw her for more than just a piece of ass.
In Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie’s debut Harley Quinn movie, Harley Quinn did not have a romantic interest as she was focused on aiding her team in achieving the mission of the movie. Her Olympic-level gymnastics and martial arts skills along with critical and fast thinking made her stand out among the other characters in the movie. Margot Robbie made Harley Quinn more than a character, she made her the plot. Combating and overcoming stereotypes and matriarchal notions irrelevant to the series, Margot Robbie brought a true icon to light. More than that, Quinn proved her self worth without a man overshadowing.
Every public appearance before this production, Quinn was always hung up on a guy, a sidekick, or battling her daddy issues. Margot Robbie saw Harley for who she really is, and made that come to life. And it is all going to be reversed on October 4th.
Joker: Folie à Deux (“madness for two”) is the new Joker movie starring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix coming out fall 2024. Lady Gaga playing Harley Quinn might be the most harmful thing to happen to the character yet, with the potential to revert back to the Harley Quinn of the early 2000s. Gaga is not established as a self respecting actor. Critics and watchers alike often point out how she oversexualizes herself and the characters she has played in other movies. Let’s take a walk through some of Gaga’s filmography:
A Star is Born – Gaga plays a struggling musician until a man comes and saves her.
House of Gucci – Gaga plays a manipulative, overbearing wife that leads to the (spoiler alert) downfall of the family.
Not only is Gaga’s reputation going to tarnish the newly-polished frame of Harley Quinn, but producers are rehashing the past with another Joker/Harley movie when they broke up ages ago. Nothing good is going to come out of Harley being seen, once again, as the crazy hot girlfriend.
Presenting Harley Quinn via Lady Gaga will scratch Margot Robbie’s job of recharacterization, rendering the progress she made ineffective. Either Lady Gaga should reevaluate her image and facade for the role, or she should not do it at all.
