BIRDS OF PREY Testing Multiple Actresses for Lead Roles

DC Films’ Birds of Prey will see Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn form a gang of major female characters, such as Black Canary, Huntress, Renee Montoya, and Cassandra Cain. We’ve heard plenty of casting rumors over the past few months, and now, we have a refined shortlist, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (A Wrinkle in Time), Jurnee Smolett-Bell (Underground), and Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures) are in contention to play Black Canary. This confirms a past rumor that Warner Bros. is looking to cast a woman of color as the traditionally white hero.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane), Margaret Qualley (The Nice Guys), and Cristin Milioti (Black Mirror) have all either tested or read for the role of The Huntress.

Justina Machado (Jane the Virgin) and Roberta Colindrez (I Love Dick) have tested for the role of Renee Montoya.

WB is looking to cast an Asian actress as Cassandra Cain, who will be a 12-year-old in this movie.

It’s likely that more actresses will be considered, but WB plans to make a final decision in the next two weeks, in order to allow necessary time for training in fight choreography.

Stay tuned for more as we have it. Birds of Prey begins production in January, presumably for a 2020 release.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter