James Gunn Says Harley Quinn Will “Almost Certainly” Appear in the DCU, With or Without Margot Robbie

James Gunn says Harley Quinn is a character he will “almost certainly” use in the DC Universe, but he has not decided whether Margot Robbie will be the one to play her. The DC Studios co-head addressed the question on The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon? The Official Podcast, a one-off episode set to debut Friday, October 30, according to ComicBook.com and The Playlist.

A One-Off Podcast to Settle the Canon Question

Gunn hosts the episode with Peacemaker co-stars Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee, and its purpose is to sort out which parts of his 2021 film belong to the new DCU. The format is informal, and it gives Gunn a direct way to address a question that fans have raised repeatedly since the DCU launched: how much of the earlier DC film era carries over into the reboot?

By the end, the trio reportedly settled on a ruling: the movie is part of the canon, with Harley as the single unresolved piece. Gunn called it “one small asterisk” and asked fans for “a little leeway” while he works out how the character will be handled, per ComicBook.com.

The ruling is notable because The Suicide Squad features characters Gunn later carried forward, including those from Peacemaker. Declaring it canon links the film to the current slate, and the asterisk shows how carefully he is handling the one element that does not fit neatly.

The Joker Complication

The complication is the Joker. Harley’s story in the earlier films is bound up with that relationship, and the DCU has not yet introduced its own version of the character. Gunn described keeping Robbie’s version as one of the harder things to justify as canon, according to ComicBookMovie.com and SuperHeroHype.

The difficulty is one of continuity. If Harley arrives in the DCU with a history that points to a Joker who does not exist in this universe, the franchise would have to either explain that absence or sidestep it. Introducing a fresh version of the character avoids the problem and lets the new Harley’s story begin without that baggage.

Two Paths Forward

He was open about the options. If Robbie wants the role, Gunn said he would “bend over backwards” to explain her place in the DCU. If she does not, he may cast someone else so that the new Harley is not tied to what happens to the character in his film, per ComicBook.com.

Gunn also said he does not know where Robbie stands, and Gizmodo reports he allowed that she may be finished with the part. He joked that Robbie is the one who decides whether the film is canon at all. The joke carries a serious point: the decision depends on an actress whose intentions he says he has not confirmed.

DC Studios and HBO Max have released an official trailer for the episode.

Robbie’s Position and Packed Calendar

Robbie has played Harley in three films: Suicide Squad (2016), Birds of Prey (2020) and Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021). Comic Basics reports she has said she has not heard from DC about a return, that she would be comfortable with another actress taking over, and that she feels she needs to share the character.

Her schedule is also full. Since Harley she has produced and starred in Barbie and built LuckyChap Entertainment, and ComicBook.com notes she is returning to Warner Bros. for Tim Burton’s Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. Her reported comments, combined with a busy producing career, suggest she is open to a handover rather than eager to resume the role, though she has not made a formal statement on the matter.

Years of Questions, Slowly Answered

The latest comments are the most detailed yet. In August 2025, Gunn told Entertainment Weekly the answer would be “revealed down the line,” per Variety. Back in January 2024, he said on Threads that there were no plans for anyone else to play Harley outside of Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel and animated projects, according to ComingSoon.net.

Read in sequence, the statements show a gradual shift. Early comments ruled out other live-action versions for the time being, a later one promised an answer eventually, and the new remarks say Harley will almost certainly appear, with the actress still undecided. Each step moves a little closer to a final decision without reaching it.

Batman Casting and the Road to Man of Tomorrow

No casting has been announced. The same podcast also produced a Batman update, with Gunn saying that casting “isn’t very far away,” per ComicBook.com. The next DCU film, Man of Tomorrow, opens July 9, 2027.

The timing places the Harley question inside a busy period for DC Studios. With a major film on the calendar and Batman casting approaching, the studio has several high-profile announcements in the pipeline, and Harley’s casting will compete for attention with them. Fans seeking certainty will likely need to wait for those announcements to unfold before learning who, if anyone, takes up the character.

Why Canon Matters to Fans

The debate over what counts as canon may seem like an insider concern, but it shapes how audiences approach a shared universe. Viewers who invest in a connected slate want to know which films they need to have seen and which stories still count, and a clear ruling on The Suicide Squad gives them a reference point. The unresolved Harley question is therefore more than a casting rumor: it determines how one of DC’s most popular characters will connect to the stories around her.

Recasting a well-known role is also a familiar move in long-running franchises. Characters outlive the actors who first played them, and the challenge is introducing a new interpretation without erasing the affection for the original. Gunn’s request for patience suggests he is aware of that balance and wants time to get it right.

What to Watch For

The most direct development would be a statement from Robbie, since Gunn says he does not know her plans. Beyond that, viewers should watch for any announcement of a DCU Joker, which would clarify how Harley’s backstory can be handled, along with the upcoming Batman casting news. Until then, the position is straightforward: Harley is expected to appear, the film is considered canon, and the performer remains to be determined.

For further context on the studio’s direction, see the related coverage below on the DCU slate and on why DC struggled to match Marvel’s cinematic empire.

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