'Birds of Prey' Gets Early 2020 Release Date

Birds of Prey is set for Feb. 7, 2020 release. Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn, first introduced in 2016's Suicide Squad. The film is directed by Cathy Yan, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who made waves with Dead Pigs, a dark comedy set in Shanghai.

Aside from Robbie, the lead cast is being kept under wraps. The Hollywood Reporter has a few ideas about who could play Black Canary and Huntress, though. The outlet says Gugu Mbatha-Raw (A Wrinkle in Time), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground ) and multi-talented recording artist Janelle Monae are in the running for Black Canary. She's known for her "canary cry" in the comics, a sonic screech that knocks down even the most skilled fighters.

For Huntress, Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Fargo) and Cristin Milioti ( How I Met Your Mother) have tested for the role. There are many incarnations of Huntress in the comics, and it's unclear which the film will adapt.

Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) and Roberta Colindrez (Vida) are both in the running for Renee Montoya, a Gotham City detective known as The Question in the comics.

It's still unclear if Batgirl/Oracle (a.k.a. Barbara Gordon), a staple Birds of Prey member, will appear in the film. Robbie, Sue Kroll and Bryan Unkeless will produce Christina Hodson's script,. The film is set to start shooting early 2019.