For much of this decade, the DCEU has struggled to replicate the success of Marvel Studios’ cinematic universe model, but in these last couple of months, it’s almost as though Warner has adopted the new approach of looking at where other superhero franchises have come under criticism and doing the opposite. First, they brought in James Gunn to write Suicide Squad 2 after he was controversially fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and now that Venom has disappointed fans with its PG-13 rating, we have confirmation that Birds of Prey will be landing the R.
This development will certainly help reinforce the old stereotype of DC being dark and moody where Marvel’s bright and cheery, but it’s a move that will no doubt be taken by many fans as an encouraging sign of things to come. Director Cathy Yan confirmed the news while speaking at the recent U.S.-China Entertainment summit, where she also provided a little backstory of how she landed this high-profile gig:
“I did my homework. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it was relatively painless and straightforward. I immediately loved the script and it felt like something I could really do, and it felt very much like my own voice. I could not put the script down, it had so much dark humor to it which a lot of my work does, and there are themes of female empowerment which are so strong and relateable. So I went in with, not with confidence, but at least a sense that I belonged in the room, that somehow magically in terms of timing and luck that this opportunity was open to me and I was definitely going to make the best of it.”
You may not be familiar with the work of Yan, but the Chinese-American filmmaker’s feature debut Dead Pigs has been earning heavy praise on the festival circuit this year. Budget-wise, however, Birds of Prey will serve as a huge step-up for the director, who’ll be working with such major names as Margot Robbie, with the star reprising her role from Suicide Squad as Harley Quinn.
Elsewhere in the cast is Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, and if a recent leak‘s anything to go by, the team may have to rescue Cassandra Cain from the clutches of Gotham City crime boss Black Mask. That’s still to be confirmed, but there’ll be time for further details before Birds of Prey comes out on February 7th, 2020.