Why Joker is not in 'Birds Of Prey'

Birds Of Prey star and producer Margot Robbie and its director Cathy Yan have opened up about the lack of a Joker in the superhero film, explaining why both Jared Leto and Joaquin Phoenix’s versions of the character aren’t involved.

When CinemaBlend asked Yan why the decision was made not to feature Leto’s Joker, who starred opposite Robbie’s Harley Quinn in 2016’s Suicide Squad, she simply responded, “I don't think we need Jared. Right? ... Just like [Harley] doesn't need The Joker.”

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Yan went a bit deeper with her explanation when talking to Heroic Hollywood, as she remarked, “Well for us, I think the movie starts with the breakup and then it’s all about Harley and we just wanted to work with that and whatever we needed him to be… just to show that he existed and that there was a breakup, but the focus of the movie is definitely not on the Joker.”

But there wasn’t just Leto’s Joker for Robbie and Yan to consider when they were developing Birds Of Prey.

The pair knew that Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix’s standalone take on the infamous DC foe would be released before their film. But Robbie had the perfect response when asked by Capital FM whether they’d ever considered crossing Phoenix’s Joker over with her Harley Quinn.

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“I think they exist in two very different worlds, Todd Phillips's Gotham and this Gotham – very different. I don't know how you'd bridge that gap. She'd drive him insane. She'd be on the other side of the fridge, like 'here.' 'J-puddin, whatcha doin?' And he’s like ‘'I just need a minute, I’m going through a lot of s***.’”

Audiences will get to see just how different the films are when Birds Of Prey is released on February 7.