Margot Robbie Calls 'Birds of Prey' 'Less Male Gaze-y'

Back in 2016, Margot Robbie made her debut in the DC world playing Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a.k.a. Harley Quinn in David Ayer's Suicide Squad. Her portrayal became an instant fan-favorite, but many critics debated about why the filmmakers traded in Quinn’s classic red and black harlequin jumpsuit for tiny shorts and and suggestive t-shirt.

The probably answer: it was made by a bunch of dudes.

But it won't be the same deal with the new film about Harley Quinn.

In the upcoming movie Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), set to be released Feb. 2020, Robbie is both producing and starring as Quinn. The movie is to be directed by Cathy Yan, and the script was written by Christina Hodson. According to Screen Rant, Robbie confirmed in her profile in Vogue that, because this film a female-fronted project, it is “definitely less male gaze–y.”

After seeing the costumes for the new film, the Vogue journalist, Irina Aleksander, wrote, “This Harley seems more Sporty Spice than male fantasy.” The costume designer, Erin Benach (A Star is Born), replied, “That’s what happens when you have a female producer, director, writer…”

For those that don’t know, “the male gaze” is a term that speaks to the long and tired tradition of depicting women in media and literature from a specifically straight, male perspective, typically as sexual objects for the pleasure of straight male viewers. As Screen Rant points out, superhero movies are often criticized for this, as the costumes for the female roles are hyper-sexual for no other reason than to appeal to male viewers.

Birds of Prey not only has mostly female filmmakers, but a strong female cast, as well. In the film, Quinn teams up with DC heroes Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) to rescue the young Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco).

With all these fierce females, it is sure to be a Fantabulous Emancipation indeed.