‘Harley Quinn’: DC Digital Service Orders Animated Series About Comic Book Villainess

[Autbot_Benz]

http://deadline.com/2017/11/harley-quinn-dc-digital-service-orders-animated-action-comedy-series-justin-halpern-patrick-schumacker-1202212632/

EXCLUSIVE: Harley Quinn, the breakout character from Warner Bros./DC’s film Suicide Squad that already is set up for a spinoff movie, is also getting her own animated TV series. Warner Bros’ upcoming DC-Branded direct-to-consumer digital platform has ordered 26 episodes of half-hour adult animated action-comedy series Harley Quinn, from Powerless executive producers Justin Halpern & Patrick Schumacker and Dean Lorey via Warner Bros. Animation.


Harley Quinn is closely associated with Margot Robbie whose portrayal of the nurse who falls for the Joker was a major bright spot in Suicide Squad. I hear Robbie is at the top of Warner Bros.’ wish list for actresses to voice the title character in the animated series and she is expected to be approached for the gig.

Harley Quinn, which also will feature Poison Ivy and other popular DC villains (and heroes), is the third series to be greenlighted for the new DC digital platform — operated by Warner Bros. Digital Networks Group — joining live-action Titans, from Greg Berlanti, Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, Sarah Schechter, and the anticipated revival of cult animated series Young Justice.
Deadline Archive

Written and executive produced by Halpern, Schumacker and Lorey, Harley Quinn, based on the DC characters, focuses on Harley Quinn who has finally broken things off once and for all with the Joker and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City. The series features Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and a whole cast of heroes and villains, old and new, from the DC Universe.

The project is still in the works, so the featured image above is development art, and the series’ eventual look may differ from it.

Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, also executive produces. Jennifer Coyle (DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year) produces with Halpern and Schumacker’s Ehsugadee Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation.

Halpern, Schumacker and Lorey dabbled in the superhero comedy series space with their stint as executive producers on NBC/Warner Bros. TV single-camera comedy Powerless last season.

This season, Schumacker and Halpern, who served as showrunners on Powerless, have multi-camera school comedy Suspended, which has a put pilot commitment at Fox. The duo, which has been based at WBTV, also teamed with Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas on comedic drama It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, which sold to the CW in a preemptive buy. Halpern and Schumacker, repped by ICM Partners and attorney Allison Binder, previously co-created CBS’ S#*! My Dad Said for WBTV and CBS with Max Mutchnick and David Cohen. It was based on Halpern’s bestseller, Sh*t My Dad Says.

Lorey also was a writer-co-executive producer on Arrested Development from 2006-2013 and writer-executive producer for all five seasons of My Wife & Kids. He is repped by WME.

https://batman-news.com/2017/11/20/harley-quinn-animated-series-margot-robbie/

Looks like Margot Robbie could be voicing Harley

[Sumac]

Good.

Though, I pretty sure, that some people will be OUTRAGED about this, because, they still think that HQ is horrible example for kids and that she is still in abusive relationship with Joker.
Or that she incapable of working as a character without Joker.

[Shark_Blade]

Good.

Though, I pretty sure, that some people will be OUTRAGED about this, because, they still think that HQ is horrible example for kids and that she is still in abusive relationship with Joker.
Or that she incapable of working as a character without Joker.

I know, they can shove their negativity up where the sun don't shine.

The Punisher on Netflix is anti-hero and arguably not a good example for kids. The show is still bloody (pun,ha!) great and edgy. Do I care about some stupid kids? Nope.

I hope this Harley spinoff will go full dark no stars as well. I prefer live action but this is what we're getting, so I'm all about it.

[Sumac]

With seemingly imminent cancellation of Birds of Pray movie and Gotham Sirens movie, I'll take even this.

[Candy Kappa]

Not too keen on SQ Harley, but I guess a show could develop her into a more interesting character.

[ProphetofGanja]

Harley Quinn Animated Series Cast Includes Poison Ivy, King Shark & More (https://www.cbr.com/harley-quinn-animated-series-cast-joker-poison-ivy/)


The Joker, Poison Ivy, Clayface, King Shark and more will join Harley Quinn (https://www.cbr.com/tag/harley-quinn-tv/) in her own animated series on DC’s as-yet untitled streaming service.

That Hashtag Show (http://thathashtagshow.com/2018/02/exclusive-cast-of-characters-confirmed-for-new-animated-harley-quinn-series/2/) has gotten hold of the character breakdowns for the forthcoming Harley Quinn animated series, and the fan-favorite character will have plenty of company joining her in the adult-oriented series. Unsurprisingly, both the Joker and Poison Ivy will appear in the series, with Deadline having already confirmed Poison Ivy (https://www.cbr.com/harley-quinn-animated-series/) back in November. However, the additions of characters such as Sy Borgman, Dr. Psycho, Malice Vundabar, King Shark and Clayface are a bit more surprising.

On Twitter, showrunner Patrick Schumacker confirmed the breakdowns as “accurate”:

The breakdown for the Joker promises a character that’s “equal parts homicidal and charismatic,” who “does everything he can to stop her.” On the other hand, “sarcastic and incredibly smart” Poison Ivy will act as “Harley’s best friend and new roommate… her reluctant partner-in-crime.”

SY BORGMAN - (90’s) Once upon a time, Sy used to be a suave, super spy. Now in his 90s, he’s a wheelchair user with most of his body replaced by creaky 50s era bionic parts. Crotchety, difficult and longs to become relevant again. He’s also Harley and Ivy’s landlord, and insists they take him on their heists so can get back into the action – or else he won’t repair the plumbing. (SERIES REGULAR)

https://static3.cbrimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Sy-Borgman.jpg?q=35&w=320&h=320&fit=crop

DR. PSYCHO - (Mid-40s) An angry misogynist dwarf with telekinesis. He was a major villain until the “incident” ten years ago …Disgraced, the only one who’ll have him is Harley. A woman. He can’t stand it, but he’ll do anything to get back into the villain community. (SERIES REGULAR)

https://static3.cbrimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Doctor-Psycho-014.jpg?q=35&w=864&h=356&fit=crop

KING SHARK - (30) His lower half is human, but his upper half is the body of a great white shark. Even though he looks incredibly fierce, he’s a gentle soul who just wants to be normal. That is, until he smells blood.(SERIES REGULAR)

https://static1.cbrimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/king-shark-dc-roar.jpg?q=35&w=864&h=432&fit=crop

CLAYFACE - (Mid 30’s) A large, humanoid mass of clay, Clayface was a struggling, trained actor until a terrible pottery accident turned him into the shapeshifting villain he is now. (SERIES REGULAR)

https://static3.cbrimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/clayface-batman-the-animated-series.jpg?q=35&w=864&h=432&fit=crop

MALICE VUNDABAR - Early 20s, pretty, but over it. She’s an alien (but looks human) and her family is crazy rich and powerful, she’s interning with Harley’s gang for college credit. (SERIES REGULAR)

https://static1.cbrimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Malice-Vundabar-001.jpg?q=35&w=274&h=463&fit=crop

Written and executive produced by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker and Dean Lorey for Warner Bros. Animation, the adult-oriented Harley Quinn animated series is slated for a 26-episode release on the DC digital platform, where it will join the live-action Titans and the animated Young Justice: Outsiders. Warner Bros. is reportedly eyeing Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie to lend her voice to the project.

via ScreenRant (https://screenrant.com/harley-quinn-animated-tv-show-characters/)

[TurtleTitan97]

kBBvIyGqQYI

Kaley Cuoco is set to voice Harley: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kaley-cuoco-voice-harley-quinn-dc-universe-series-1149176

[CyberCubed]

I really hate Ivy's all green skin tone. One of my least favorite redesigns for her.

[TigerClaw]

kBBvIyGqQYI

Kaley Cuoco is set to voice Harley: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kaley-cuoco-voice-harley-quinn-dc-universe-series-1149176
I love the little jab at Deadpool.

[Autbot_Benz]

kBBvIyGqQYI

Kaley Cuoco is set to voice Harley: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kaley-cuoco-voice-harley-quinn-dc-universe-series-1149176

eh I would have preferred Tara Strong. I like that Diedrich Bader is batman again

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. We'll see.

[ZariusTwo]

HSD6Jvq3M7Q

[ZariusTwo]

Man, this show finally came up with a great romantic partner for Ivy that isn't Harley and now I want it to be canon in comics, much the same way Beast Boy and Raven ultimately got 'ship teased in Titans Go after the original series ended.

Kite Man HELL YEAH.

[Leo656]

This thing seems weird to me. The type of humor itself is to my taste while not actually being something I like to see associated with DC characters on an "official" show or project, if that makes any sense. Like, what I'd laugh at coming out of Peter Griffin's mouth doesn't land for me when coming out of Harley Quinn's. Maybe that's weird but it's something I've noticed anyway.

Like whenever I'm scrolling through FB and a clip from this show comes up I end up rolling my eyes. Like Harley's "This must be where you f*ck the bats" thing to Batman. I mean it's funny but it feels inappropriate at the same time. I get that "irreverence" is the entire point but I don't know.

Like when Robot Chicken does the same kinda thing, I laugh. I guess because it's 3rd-party satire and not DC "officially" making fun of itself. Maybe. I don't know exactly what it is but that's just the way my gut reacts to this. I had no opinion on it whatsoever but every time I see a clip I either sigh or cringe, and I'm totally not doing it on purpose.

[ABrown]

Syfy has the entire first season available. I'm gonna give it a go. So far I've watched the first episode.

[Leo656]

Is it censored? My wife was wondering. She was curious about it but if it's censored she's not gonna bother with it.

[neatoman]

About the censorship, why is this show fine with leaving almost every word uncensored except for... Well it's going to get filtered here but anyone who watched the show knows what Doctor Psycho called Wonder Woman... that word?

There's actually one instance where the censorship of that particular word made me thing they censored "cockeye".

[ABrown]

Is it censored? My wife was wondering. She was curious about it but if it's censored she's not gonna bother with it.

From what I can tell it appears Syfy has it completely uncensored. My wife was kinda shocked when she heard the language.

You know after watching the first couple of episodes, you know what this show kinda reminds me of. It reminds me the show Stripperella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stripperella. Remember that show, with Pamela Anderson voicing the title character.

[Leo656]

So my wife put the first episode on and so far we're in agreement that the show tries way too hard, and I frankly don't think it's even very funny or clever at all. It's like, "We'll have these licensed characters say 'sh*t' and 'motherf*cker' every third word like they're all from NJ or something; that'll fill the Shock Value Quota while eliminating the need to write jokes or dialog." It's very hacky and lazy and I'm quite sure that most of the time they're just doing improv to amuse themselves and then animating over it later. It just feels very self-congratulatory and insists upon how awesome it is for being "outrageous", but I completely don't feel it.

It's pretty much what I feared it would be: An officially licensed Robot Chicken skit that doesn't know when to end. And since Robot Chicken is already a thing and they actually know how to, y'know, be funny, I'm kind of confused as to who this show is actually FOR, outside of that vocal minority of people who'll go nuts for anything with Harley in it.

It just... it isn't funny. The only thing that almost got a reaction from me was the Costco bit, and that's really more just because my wife and mother-in-law go there a lot, so it's not even like the show came up with a good joke, it just happened to be personally amusing for unrelated reasons.

I *think* she liked it a little bit more than I did, but she offered no debate when I said "Good Lord, that was tedious". She specifically didn't like most of the characterizations and the constant swearing in lieu of actual dialog; I pretty much didn't like any of it. I mean I don't feel dumber for watching it or anything but it's not for me.

That said, it'll probably end up being one of those shows we don't really pay attention to but leave on as background noise when the South Park and Family Guy reruns are all ones we've seen a thousand times, just because it's "something different". Like The Cleveland Show. I swear I must have "seen" that entire series by now, probably twice over, and I can't tell you anything about it other than the stepdaughter is hot and that show - like this one - isn't funny.

I've said this elsewhere, but it kind of amazes me how within, like, three years, they've made me go from "I rather like Harley Quinn in general" to "Y'know, if they NEVER used Harley Quinn ever again in anything I really wouldn't mind or care."

[ABrown]

Looks like I finished the first season on Syfy just in time. I don't see the episodes available to watch any more. Speaking of the first season though, I was a little surprised to see a DVD release. I enjoyed the first season, but I'm not sure yet if it's something that I'll want to purchase to watch over and over again. If I do purchase the show, I'd imagine that I'll probably just purchase it digitally through amazon, rather than pick up the dvd.

[neatoman]

Looks like I finished the first season on Syfy just in time. I don't see the episodes available to watch any more. Speaking of the first season though, I was a little surprised to see a DVD release. I enjoyed the first season, but I'm not sure yet if it's something that I'll want to purchase to watch over and over again. If I do purchase the show, I'd imagine that I'll probably just purchase it digitally through amazon, rather than pick up the dvd.

Syfy is a TV network, right? Are the curse words censored?

[ABrown]

Syfy is a TV network, right? Are the curse words censored?

From what I could tell, the first season appeared to be uncensored.

[ZariusTwo]

Season two finale spoilers

Kite found out Ivy and Harley slept together in the previous episode, but forgives her and they try to go through with the wedding but it's interrupted by Jim Gordon and the GPD and all hell breaks loose. It ends with Ivy wanting to continue with the wedding but Kite lets her go, he knows she loves Harley and her heart isn't in to the wedding, he departs. Ivy realises he is right and acknowledges her flaws, and tells Harley she admires her for trying to change, Harley and Ivy declare their love for one another. They dash off Thelma and Louise style being chased across the Gotham highways by the police, they kiss. The end?

[CyberCubed]

Watched the whole show the first time, it started out iffy and felt like a parody (well I mean, I guess it technically IS), but it actually got really good and enjoyable as it went on. Some real heartfelt moments and development for the cast, and surprisingly a lot of continuity with both the heroes and villains. I thought this was going to be just a bunch of one-off comedy episodes, I wasn't expecting season long story arcs.

I'm surprised they killed off a few villains, but it was pretty enjoyable. Joker was handled very well as was Batman.

[Shark_Blade]

Harley Quinn won Best Animated TV Series 2020

.@IGN awards @DCHarleyQuinn as Best Animated TV Series of 2020 Winner with @RickandMorty as a runner-up. Both #DCUHARLEYQUINN and #RickandMorty are available to stream on @HBOMax: https://www.ign.com/articles/best-animated-series-2020

Congrats! Love the show. Birds of Prey also won Best Action film 2020, what a year for Harley Quinn. :tlove:

[neatoman]

Birds of Prey also won Best Action film 2020, what a year for Harley Quinn. :tlove:

Was that really that hard when there's been like... What... Three?

[Leo656]

Was that really that hard when there's been like... What... Three?

BRUH, I literally was gonna post more or less exactly that but then I got distracted. :lol:

...Y'know they're scraping the bottom of the barrel when movies that came out in 2019 are counted among the "Best of 2020". :trazz:

[ABrown]

I've been really tempted to either purchase season two digitally through amazon, or just go ahead and subscribe to HBO Max (as I would also really like to see The Flight Attendant series staring Kaley Cuoco).

[CyberCubed]

I wonder if this show will hit the usual 52 ep mark and end like most DC cartoons ended around there.

Superman: TAS ended at 54 eps, Batman Beyond at 52, Justice League (without JLU) was 52 eps, Static Shock was 52 eps, JLU was only 39 episodes, Teen Titans got 65 episodes as did Brave and the Bold. Usually DC ends their shows around the 52-65 ep mark.

[Leo656]

Most of those shows were pretty good.

It'd be an actual tragedy if this junk one got a longer run just because of certain sociopolitical "reasons" and the fact a big-name TV actress stars in it.

That said, I can see it happening. That's just the way things go nowadays. Supergirl definitely didn't deserve to go past its second Season, and yet... well, you know.

[ZariusTwo]

Season three is estimated to drop late 2021/early 2022

https://animesuperhero.com/harley-quinn-season-3-release-window-given-by-showrunner/

[Autbot_Benz]

DC told Harley Quinn season 3 showrunners to remove scene of Batman giving Oral Sex to Catwoman


“It’s incredibly gratifying and free to be using characters that are considered villains because you just have so much more leeway,” says Halpern. “A perfect example of that is in this third season of ‘Harley’ [when] we had a moment where Batman was going down on Catwoman. And DC was like, ‘You can’t do that. You absolutely cannot do that.’ They’re like, ‘Heroes don’t do that.’ So, we said, ‘Are you saying heroes are just selfish lovers?’ They were like, ‘No, it’s that we sell consumer toys for heroes. It’s hard to sell a toy if Batman is also going down on someone.’

https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/subverting-superhero-tv-wandavision-harley-quinn-umbrella-academy-1234992069/

[Leo656]

Jesus f*cking Christ.

I can't believe this sh*t keeps getting renewed. OH, wait, I forgot... Queer Protagonist = Bulletproof. :roll:

[IMJ]

Jesus f*cking Christ.

I can't believe this sh*t keeps getting renewed. OH, wait, I forgot... Queer Protagonist = Bulletproof. :roll:


Even if the show had diminishing returns and viewership Hollywoke will have built a pyre on these shows, so they will ride it out across seasons at a loss to save face, if need be. We've seen this before....

[CyberCubed]

DC told Harley Quinn season 3 showrunners to remove scene of Batman giving Oral Sex to Catwoman

To be fair nobody needs to see (or hear) that.

[Coola Yagami]

To be fair nobody needs to see (or hear) that.

I do believe everyone, females included, want to hear Catwoman groan as the Bats goes to town on her kitty.

[Xav]

Sell toys? What kids are watching Harley Quinn?

[Andrew NDB]

Didn't even knew this existed. I'm OK going back to pretending it doesn't.

[sdp]

Isn't this show supposed to be very good? I've only heard great things about it from people I trust. The few clips that I've seen have been funny as well.

[ZariusTwo]

Isn't this show supposed to be very good? I've only heard great things about it from people I trust. The few clips that I've seen have been funny as well.

It's great until Harley and Ivy start their romance. Kite deserved better.

[ABrown]

No, CC would rather watch Catra getting eaten out by She-Ra.

[CyberCubed]

Isn't this show supposed to be very good? I've only heard great things about it from people I trust. The few clips that I've seen have been funny as well.

I watched it last year, it does have some funny episodes and moments. Batman isn't in it much for obvious reasons. I hate that they made Bane a parody of his Dark Knight Rises version though.

[ZariusTwo]

Kite Man is getting a spin-off

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/harley-quinn-kite-man-spinoff-noonans-reportedly-in-development/

[neatoman]

Kite Man is getting a spin-off

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/harley-quinn-kite-man-spinoff-noonans-reportedly-in-development/

Well, yeah. He's about the only likable character on the show, it's more surprising that the show is getting a spin-off than it is being about him... Somehow...

[ZariusTwo]

cbsuJjVm2jg

[Leo656]

Christ Almighty I thought they cancelled that show. Must've been wishful thinking.

[Autbot_Benz]

Christ Almighty I thought they cancelled that show. Must've been wishful thinking.

I groaned when I saw Swamp Thing in the trailer. Can we please Keep Swamp Thing out of this comedy crap.

[Sage Ninja]

I'm still going to watch this, it has problems and I see the reason for people not liking some of the characters but I still mostly enjoyed it. And Kiteman was a great character. Hated how they did him dirty and made him a cuckold. I feel the show tried to hard to make him this universe's version of Jerry Smith...like they tried hard to make him as pathetic as Jerry from Rick and Morty but it did not take because he is too likable. I felt nothing but sympathy for him.

[ZariusTwo]

Yeah, Kite is the real star of this franchise. At least he's getting a new love interest and a spin-off of his own, so he's being rewarded for stealing this show.

I actually like Ivy a lot, but that's because of her chemistry with Kite. She deserves better than Harley. It's why I love that the comics routinely find ways to break them up

[ZariusTwo]

The October solicits for DC Comics spoil the ending of season three

Harley and Ivy break up, Ivy becomes leader of the Legion of Doom while Harley becomes a member of the Bat-Family

[neatoman]

The October solicits for DC Comics spoil the ending of season three

Harley and Ivy break up, Ivy becomes leader of the Legion of Doom while Harley becomes a member of the Bat-Family

... Uhm... OK, kind of weird considering what the first two seasons were about...

[ZariusTwo]

... Uhm... OK, kind of weird considering what the first two seasons were about...

The solicits don't really make it clear if they're broken up or if they're still friends, but it'd be awfully weird if they tried to keep their romance going while being on different moral sides

[Sage Ninja]

so...Harley is just deadpool with pigtails now?

[Cowabung-Gal]

Man, this show finally came up with a great romantic partner for Ivy that isn't Harley and now I want it to be canon in comics….

Kite Man HELL YEAH.


Yeah, I had my hopes up too…
:(

[Sumac]

so...Harley is just deadpool with pigtails now?
Always was.

[Cowabung-Gal]

so...Harley is just deadpool with pigtails now?

Always was.

And Thanos is basically Darkseid with bling.

[Coola Yagami]

Always was.

I mean... now when she was just Joker's silly little henchwoman in The Animated Series.

This new roller derby Hot Topic Harley is def Deadpool with pigtails.

[Sumac]

And Thanos is basically Darkseid with bling.
Yep. His creator even admitted he ripped of Darkseid.

I mean... now when she was just Joker's silly little henchwoman in The Animated Series.
I kinda forgot that there was a time when she was neither popular nor Deadpool-like. But, yeah, when she had appeared she wasn't Deadpool with pigtails, but her character had evolved into it. One might say organically.
Which is a pity - she can be much more interesting than Deadpool, but, alas.

[Autbot_Benz]

Matt Ryan is voicing John Constantine again in this I love it

[ZariusTwo]

Harley will now co-lead the Kite Man spin-off

https://twitter.com/MidouMir/status/1669336777541156867?t=6rZR6F4oX5ohS-0TNL2_Tg&s=19

[ZariusTwo]

HnHKPjTUdOs