Asian American Harley Quinn debuts in new 'Batman: Caped Crusader'

Ryan General
·2 min read
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[Source]

The upcoming animated "Batman: Caped Crusader" series is shaking things up with a fresh take on Harley Quinn.

Key points:

  • Harley Quinn will be depicted as Asian American in the new series.

  • The character is no longer paired with the Joker, her usual partner-in-crime.

  • She works as a psychiatrist who treats Bruce Wayne, giving her unique insight into Batman.

  • The series was initially planned for HBO Max but was later picked up by Prime Video.

The details:

  • "Batman: Caped Crusader" is the brainchild of Bruce Timm, the co-creator of Harley Quinn in the iconic "Batman: The Animated Series."

  • To avoid simply rehashing the iconic show, Timm opted for a distinct 1940s aesthetic with no cellphones or computers.

  • Timm wanted to move away from Harley Quinn's typical portrayal as a goofy supervillain linked to the Joker. Here, Dr. Quinzel is a regular psychiatrist assigned to Bruce Wayne.

  • This Harley is described as more whimsical as Dr. Quinzel, but her Harley Quinn persona is "scary" and uses psychology as a weapon.

"The original Dr. Quinzel was a little bit more serious, and then when she became Harley, she got really goofy and weird. So we thought, what if we reverse that? When she's Dr. Quinzel, she's a little bit more whimsical and fun, and then when she's Harley Quinn, she's scary.”

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  • Batman himself is also explored in a new light as a brooding, strange individual who struggles to be Bruce Wayne.

  • Voice actors for the show have yet to be revealed.

What's next:

  • "Batman: Caped Crusader" premieres on Prime Video on August 1.

Tangent:

  • The show also features new looks for Catwoman and Clayface, drawing inspiration from their original comic book appearances.

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