Margot Robbie has revealed why the iconic DC villain Penguin never appeared in Birds of Prey (2020). The Oscar-nominated actress explained that director Matt Reeves requested a change, prompting the filmmakers to swap the villain for Black Mask, played by Ewan McGregor.
Robbie, who stars as Harley Quinn, told Colin Farrell in a recent interview that the original script by Christina Hodson featured the Penguin as the main antagonist. “The first draft that Christina wrote of Birds of Prey, the villain was the Penguin,” Robbie said. “Then Matt Reeves said, ‘Don’t use the Penguin. I’m going to use him in my thing.’ And so we swapped it to Black Mask.”
This revelation marks one of the first public insights into the early creative decisions behind the Birds of Prey project. The film, directed by Cathy Yan, focused on Harley Quinn after her split from the Joker. Robbie’s performance was praised for its energy, humor, and depth, highlighting her ability to carry both action and comedy scenes.
Robbie’s collaboration with Colin Farrell has taken a unique turn. Before Farrell became known for his portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot in The Batman universe, he almost shared screen time with Robbie in a very different context. The swap of villains ensured that Harley Quinn’s story remained separate from the ongoing Batman narrative.
After reprising Harley Quinn in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021), Robbie’s future in the DC Universe remains uncertain. DC Studios has indicated that her next role as Harley will be “revealed down the line,” leaving fans eager for updates.
Meanwhile, DC continues to expand its cinematic universe across multiple storylines. Gunn’s recently released Superman introduced the new DCU phase called ‘Gods and Monsters.’ This operates independently from Reeves’ ‘Batman Epic Crime Saga,’ which includes The Batman (2022) and last year’s HBO Max spin-off series, The Penguin.
Reeves has been busy preparing for The Batman Part II. The director and co-writer Mattson Tomlin confirmed in June that the script is complete. Production is scheduled to begin in spring, according to a recent letter to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders. The sequel is set to premiere on October 1, 2027, following a year-long delay from its original release date.
The creative decision to replace the Penguin in Birds of Prey illustrates the careful planning behind DC’s interconnected universe. While fans might have missed seeing Penguin face off against Harley Quinn, the swap allowed filmmakers to maintain narrative cohesion and avoid overlapping storylines with Reeves’ projects.
Robbie’s comments also highlight the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Directors, writers, and actors often adapt scripts to fit larger cinematic plans. In this case, Matt Reeves’ involvement directly influenced the villain choice, proving how strategic decisions shape the final film.
For now, fans can look forward to the next Harley Quinn appearances, while Reeves and his team continue to expand Gotham’s dark and gritty universe. As the DC Universe grows, creative choices like swapping Penguin for Black Mask underline the careful planning required to keep multiple storylines fresh, engaging, and interconnected.
