Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn spinoff movie has a title — and people on Twitter are mocking it
The title of the Harley Quinn spinoff film has been announced, and it’s throwing DC fans for a loop. On Tuesday, star and producer Margot Robbie posted an Instagram photo of the script, which revealed that the film will be called Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The film’s name is so long, and so uncharacteristically whimsical for the DC Extended Universe, that many fans thought it was a joke until several entertainment news outlets confirmed the title. At that point, social media began weighing in on tongue-in-cheek alternatives.
Birds of Prey or How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love the Bomb That Was Suicide Squad
— Carli Velocci (@velocciraptor) November 20, 2018
Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn): Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
— Jacob Shamsian (@JayShams) November 20, 2018
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of Mimi
— Joi Childs (@jumpedforjoi) November 20, 2018
The actual film name appears to be a cheeky riff on the Oscar-winning 2014 superhero drama Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). It’s also a canny way to include the name of one of the DCEU’s most popular characters in what was previously sold as a Birds of Prey film. (Birds of Prey, for those not in the know, is the name for an all-female superhero team that made its first comics appearance in 1996, originally led by Batgirl, Black Canary and Huntress. Harley Quinn has not historically been a part of the team, though other Batman villains, including Poison Ivy and Catwoman, have joined up in the comics.) Given the title, the Suicide Squad breakout may be taking the leadership role in place of Batgirl, whose appearance in the new film has not been confirmed.
Though the title Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) has received some Twitter praise, it’s also met with plenty of head-scratching.
“Birds of Prey and The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn” pic.twitter.com/KrbUsPdVuP
— Jennifer (@jennisince94) November 20, 2018
the birds of prey title is great. i will not be reading the replies to this tweet. god bless
— demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon) November 21, 2018
Yo that’s not a movie title, that’s a double album, when’s it drop #birdsofprey pic.twitter.com/46Oe4XlmFb
— Phil Nobile Jr. (@PhilNobileJr) November 20, 2018
Really not feeling that title for Birds of Prey. pic.twitter.com/leS0TCZgyd
— Taylor Pechter (@TheInspecter) November 20, 2018
Honestly, a change of tone seems like a good step for the DCEU, whose biggest success by far was the film that broke its gloomy, hyper-masculine mold: Wonder Woman. Time will tell whether fans can warm up to the name. In the meantime, Warner Bros. can take pride in having the first American film in history to include the word “fantabulous” in its title.
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will open in theaters Feb. 7, 2020.
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