Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who wrote and helmed the 2011 film Crazy, Stupid, Love and are the directors and executive producers of the popular NBC drama This is Us, are changing pace and entering the DC cinematic universe at Warner Bros.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two are in final negotiations to write and manage a project centering on two of the most famous Batman villains: Joker and Harley Quinn.
The film is not yet titled, but Jared Leto and Margot Robbie are set to come back to their roles as the villains. They were first portrayed in 2016’s Suicide Squad.
The film is described as a “criminal love story” between the two maniacs, writes The Hollywood Reporter. One insider said that the film is “an insane and twisted love story. When Harry Met Sally on benzedrine.”
Insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that this film will start after the studio makes a sequel to Suicide Squad, which is on the “development fast-track” and is already out to directors. However, the Joker and Harley Quinn movie is also moving quickly because, according to sources, Warners has to contend with actors’ holding agreements.
The Hollywood Reporter writes that the project falls within Warners’ main line of movies based on their DC properties. However, the studio is also trying to develop a line of DC-related films that fall outside this established cinematic universe, which will hopefully distinguish Warners’ superhero movies from the many, many competitors.
Todd Phillips, director of The Hangover, is developing a Joker origin film. It will star an actor other than Leto.
But for now, The The Hollywood Reporter writes, Warner Bros. may not be expanding its movie universe as much as “doubling down” on the intense interest audiences seem to have right now for the current characters.
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