It’s no secret that the upcoming  Suicide Squad is going center around DC Comics heroine/villainess/crazypants Harley Quinn, and that scores of fans are unhappy.  Why?  Well, mostly because they don’t want the “Suicide Squad” version of HQ to be the cinematic introduction of the character.  It was announced earlier today that actress Margot Robbie (Wolf of Wall Street) will be playing the part in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie.

Let’s backtrack-  Harley Quinn was a character that was introduced to the Batman universe during the original airing of Batman- The Animated Series, which remains arguably one of the most popular and well loved versions of a Batman narrative to air on television or film.  The character of Harley first shows up in “Joker’s Favor”, and was never meant to stick around past this episode.  Arleen Sorkin’s voicework helped propel the Joker’s galpal to almost overnight acceptance, and the character was adapted into the official lexicon with the 1994 graphic novel “Mad Love”.  Other than the short-lived CW series Birds Of Prey, Harley has not been used in a live action role.

She has gone from a silly character in a jumpsuit and horned cowl to whatever the hell they think she is now.  An upcoming comic issue of the ‘new’ Harley will have a scratch-n-sniff cover that smells of cannabis.  Let’s just say most of the diehard fan community is morally and vocally against 90% of the changes DC’s “New 52” has brought her.  We know this Suicide Squad film will follow the story and continuity of the 52 version, hencley including Harley as she is not a part of the pre-52 Squad.  This also means we’ll more than likely see Penquin and Deadshot.

That brings me to the fancasting of a film appearance of the red and black clad lady, as if she were the classic Dini-Timm version:


(We of course have to start off by saying that if she were still alive, Brittany Murphy would be a marvelous choice alongside Heath Ledger’s Joker, if he were still alive.)

1.  Amanda Seyfried:

Probably my number one current choice.  I watched Jennifer’s Body as a reviewer, and thought of it like Harley and Catwoman in highschool, much to the dismay of my editors at the time.  But really, Amanda’s cheekbones and eyes would look FABULOUS under the classic black mask, and we know she looks lovely as a pale wolf-chased maiden in Red Riding Hood.  We know she can do the ditzy confused thing, ala Momma Mia, and she mostly cut her chops in the afternoon soap opera circuit.  Also, Veronica Mars.  Win!

2.  Natalie Dormer:

Anytime a strong female character needs an attractive actress, Natalie gets named almost instantly.  She’s constantly surprising us with the characters she plays.  Let’s keep in mind the first time we really saw her in a ‘leading’ role, it was as the soft and fluffy Victoria in Cassanova.  But, little did the majority of viewers know, she was an award-winning Olympic-style fencer.  How cool is that?  She then went for dark hair, and a witchy demeanor in The Tudors as Ann Boleyn, melding both seduction and a measure of mind control over the king, all the while being coerced by her father and uncle.  The girl could be gorgeous in just about any hairstyle, costume, or makeup one would think up.

3.  Kristen Bell:

I’m not so keen on this choice unless we’re talking a straight up from Batman- TAS version.  Kristen is silly, and cute, and has a wonderful singing voice, which are things that would put her up about six points in the Harley poll.  But, her name constantly gets mentioned in this fancasting circle.  *I* remember her from American Dreams and Deadwood (which are fantastic shows btw), but the majority of audiences will know her as Veronica Mars, Elle from Heroes, and most recently Anna from Frozen.

4.  Jayne Wisener:

A last minute addition that I’m including because of her work as Johanna in the Tim Burton version of Sweeney Todd.  Fragile and hauntingly beautiful, her other body of work includes BBC’s Misfits and a strange modern version of Nicholas Nickleby.

5.  Holiday Grainger:

If you watch the Showtime historical drama The Borgias you’d understand this choice.  Holiday plays Lucrezia Borgia, a scheming daughter of the Pope who is a power all her own in later years.  She’s also played Bonnie in a lovely tv movie of Bonnie & Clyde, wherein Bonnie was the mastermind and driving force behind the notorious pair.

Other names I should mention because of the sheer amount of entries there are for them: Evan Rachel Wood, Christina Ricci, Sienna Miller, Jena Malone, and Malin Ackerman.  We would add Katee Sackhoff in here after her commentary about wanting to play Harley, but honestly we’re holding out for her as Marvel’s upcoming Captain Marvel.

(And if you’re wondering why this is at all important to the author here, take into account that I’ve been a fan of the character since that first appearance on Batman: TAS, I have a tattoo of Dini/Timm style lady on my leg, and have MULTIPLE Harley Cosplays.)