Birds of Prey 2 - How Harley Quinn's movie sets up a sequel, spin-off and more

Will Birds of Prey 2 happen? And will Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) returning for a sequel?

We know, it's nigh on impossible to make a superhero movie nowadays – or any movie, for that matter – without everyone wondering if it's the beginning of a series. Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn is no exception.

Birds of Prey follows a rag-tag bunch of vigilantes trying to stop a narcissistic mad man, Black Mask (Ewan McGregor), from killing a young girl and taking over Gotham City. As part of the DC Comics universe, there's a lot of history woven into this otherwise atypical "superhero" movie.

As we explore whether Birds of Prey sets up a sequel or not, we're obviously going to run into some spoilers, so steer clear if you haven't yet seen the movie. And go see it! We really liked it.

Birds of Prey may still be in cinemas, but the ending gave us enough fodder to speculate about an upcoming sequel. By the time we reach the final scene, the disparate women of Gotham have come together to defeat Black Mask once and for all.

Harley and Cassandra are off on their own, tearing through Gotham as mercenaries for hire. But through Harley Quinn's voice-over, the audience learns that Black Canary, Huntress, and Detective Renee Montoya have become a vigilante squad called Birds of Prey.

This new vigilante group is the perfect jumping-off point for a direct sequel to Birds of Prey – especially if a sequel necessitates them teaming up with Harley and Cassandra once again. There is also the option of the sequel following the Birds of Prey on their own.

A sequel from the film could pull more comic book characters into the fold – in particular, Barbara Gordon, aka Oracle, aka Bat Girl. In the comics, Oracle was a founding member of the Birds of Prey with Black Canary.

Huntress is also a comics-canon member of the Birds of Prey. The team roster changed frequently over the years and has included Lady Blackhawk, Catwoman, Dove, Misfit, and Poison Ivy.

Speaking of Poison Ivy, Margot Robbie herself has expressed interest in a Harley Quinn Poison Ivy spin-off. Speaking to CBR, Robbie said: "I've been pushing a Poison Ivy reunion for a long time. I've been really working that angle for a long time. Because obviously Ivy and Harley have such an incredible relationship, so I would love to explore that."

Another story that is prime to be explored is Black Canary's. As mentioned in Birds of Prey, Black Canary inherited her mantle, and power of the Canary Cry, from her mother, also named Dinah.

In 2003, comics writer Gail Simone took over Birds of Prey and added Huntress to the line-up. She departed the series after four years to work on Wonder Woman. But now, Simone has thrown her support behind a Black Canary spin-off and we are here for it.

View full post on X

Simone is someone who loves the characters she writes. In 2007 she told Newsarama that the Birds of Prey "don't apologise for being asskickers, nor for being smart, nor for being sexy, nor for being sexual, for that matter.

"There are always going to be some people who find that not to their taste, but at the same time, Birds of Prey regularly brings in people who don't otherwise read mainstream comics, a whole audience that may not pick up any other superhero titles, and I love that niche, that little area between good taste and utter shamelessness."

It seems Robbie's wishes of inspiring further Birds of Prey related movies in Warner Bros' DC universe is set to come true.

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will be released in cinemas on February 7, 2020.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) [DVD] [2020]

£6 at Amazon

Wonder Woman 1984 [DVD] [2020]

£6 at Amazon

Zack Snyder's Justice League [DVD] [2021]

£7 at Amazon

Joker [DVD] [2019]

Now 21% Off

£4 at Amazon

Shazam! DVD [2019]

£5 at Amazon

Aquaman [Blu-ray] [2018]

£5 at Amazon

DC 5 Film Collection [DVD] [2018]

£8 at Amazon

Wonder Woman [Blu-ray + Digital Download] [2017] [Region Free]

£4 at Amazon

Justice League [4k Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Download] [2017]

£9 at Amazon

The Dark Knight Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2013] [Region Free]

£22 at Amazon

The Superman 5 Film Collection 1978-2006 [Blu-ray] [1978] [Region Free]

Now 20% Off

£20 at Amazon

Superman Animated Movie Collection [DVD] [2013]

£18 at Amazon

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Ultimate Edition

£20 at Amazon

Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.

Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Gabriella Geisinger

Gabriella Geisinger is a freelance film critic and journalist, with a focus on J-drama & film, and the Japanese production industry. She was previously Locations Editor at Screen International and Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy. Her writing can also befound in Curzon, 1883, and more. A born and raised New Yorker, she loves coffee and the colour black, obviously.