Birds of Prey: Margot Robbie Explains Why Joker had to be Removed From DCEU Film

There was a time when people believed that Joker and Harley Quinn would get their own spin-off film after Suicide Squad. However, it looks like Warner Bros. has changed its plans considering that Birds of Prey will not be featuring Jared Leto. So what's with the change? Margot Robbie has explained why it was necessary to do away with the Clown Prince of Crime in the upcoming Warner Bros. flick.

Robbie is currently on a press tour promoting Birds of Prey when she was asked why the Joker isn't a part of the film (via Comicbook.com). Interestingly, the I, Tonya actress admitted that the DC supervillain was initially part of the plan but she had other ideas.

"It was either going to be a complete Harley and Joker story or Joker has got to be out of the picture," Robbie said. "I really wanted to see Harley in a girl gang and I felt there was a huge gap in the market for a girl gang ensemble action film. I felt like no one was doing that and I couldn't understand why, especially a comic book movie."

But was there ever a chance that Leto's Joker would actually show up in Birds of Prey? Robbie stated otherwise.

"From the very beginning it was a conscious choice of they have to be broken up at this stage," Robbie shared. "I have a whole backstory in my head [of] what's happened between what you saw at the end of Suicide Squad and what you see at the beginning of Birds of Prey."

This might be bad news for fans who were hoping to at least get a glimpse at Joker in the movie. Nevertheless, it seems like Birds of Prey is just ready to dump him and move on.

Birds of Prey will premiere on February 7.

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