Ewan McGregor explained the reason behind Black Mask’s hatred towards Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey.
Birds of Preywill introduce multiple newcomers to the DC Extended Universe, including Ewan McGregor as the notorious crime boss known as Black Mask. This particular version of Black Mask will harbor an intense hatred towards Harley Quinn and Ewan McGregor offered insight into the reasons behind the villain’s disdain for the fan-favorite anti-heroine.
During an interview with Gamespot to promote Birds of Prey, Ewan McGregor explained that Black Mask is a villain who feels the need to be in complete control and can become unhinged when he loses any authority. Of course, the chaotic Harley Quinn proves to be one of the few people Black Mask can’t control and Ewan McGregor noted that this truly enrages the crime boss:
“He has to be in absolute control. He’s insane when he’s not in control. We only see him in his club, in his car, in his apartment–or at the end when he’s running around. But really I feel like we only ever see him in places he controls. And then Harley comes into this world and she’s uncontrollable. It drives him mad. He hates it.”
Ewan McGregor elaborated, noting that Black Mask’s feelings towards Harley Quinn play into the misogyny explored in Birds of Prey. As Ewan McGregor explained, Black Mask only ever putup with Harley Quinn because of her association with the Joker and she is proving to be a problem for him now she is single in:
“It plays into the exploration of misogyny in the film. He’s only ever put up with Harley because she was Joker’s girlfriend. So that was the only reason he ever put up with her, because [Joker] was all-powerful. But as soon as [Roman] realizes that Harley’s man is out of the picture, she becomes a problem. That makes him a true misogynist. Harley is trying to find her freedom–the emancipation of Harley Quinn, right? She’s trying to find her voice. She’s not getting her power from her partner anymore.”
Are you excited to see how Harley Quinn can outfox Ewan McGregor’s Black Mask in Birds of Prey? Let us know your thoughts on the dynamic between Black Mask and Harley Quinn inBirds of Prey below!
Here is the official synopsis forBirds of Prey:
“You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.”
Directed by Cathy Yan from a script penned byBumblebeewriter Christina Hodson,Birds of Preystars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz, Ewan McGregor as Black Mask, and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Ali Wong, Robert Catrini, and Michael Masini have also been cast in undisclosed roles.
Birds of Preywill be released in theaters on February 7, 2020.
Source: Gamespot
FAQs
We only see him in his club, in his car, in his apartment–or at the end when he's running around. But really I feel like we only ever see him in places he controls. And then Harley comes into this world and she's uncontrollable. It drives him mad.
Why did they change Harley Quinn to Birds of Prey? ›
The reason for the title change is “search expansion for ticket sites,” a studio representative told the Verge. The twisted antihero Harley Quinn, as played by Margot Robbie, was the breakout character of 2016's “Suicide Squad,” so it was always a curious choice to market her spinoff under the team-up title.
Is Black Mask dead in Birds of Prey? ›
The DCEU brought in Black Mask as the big bad for Birds of Prey, but he died at the end of the movie. Why didn't the DCEU save this Batman villain for future use in the film universe? In Birds of Prey, Roman Sionis, a.k.a. Black Mask, is a prominent gangster in Gotham City.
Is the Joker really not in Bird of Prey? ›
The decision was made pretty early by both Margo Robbie (who was a producer on the movie) and the writers to leave out the Joker character entirely. Leaving out Leto's character entirely was intentional.
Is Birds of Prey kid appropriate? ›
Too much violence. Absolutely not recommended for kids below 16 years old.
Did Harley Quinn do her own stunts in Birds of Prey? ›
That's not the case, apparently: Robbie did many of her own stunts for Birds of Prey, and there's video evidence to prove it. Harley Quinn is a former gymnast who eventually traded in her leotard for a psychologist's lab coat — and then traded that in for the colorful wardrobe of a comic book antiheroine.
What happened to Harley Quinn at the end of Birds of Prey? ›
Birds of Prey ends the pair driving off to a new adventure with Bruce (Harley's hyena pet), but not before Harley declares Cass as her new apprentice. Given the camaraderie the pair have developed, it's not surprising that they would stick with each other.
Who kills Black Mask? ›
In the Elseworlds storyline Batman: Crimson Mist, Black Mask arrogantly dismisses Two-Face's warnings about the now-vampiric Batman, believing himself untouchable until Batman attacks the False Face Society in the form of a monstrous bat, killing Black Mask and several other members.
What mental illness does Black Mask have? ›
7 Black Mask - sad*stic Personality Disorder
Shown as Gotham City's criminal boss man, Black Mask is known to elicit sad*stic pleasure out of tormenting and abusing others.
Why does Black Mask hate Bruce Wayne? ›
Black Mask eventually became a mob boss controlling large sections of Gotham City's criminal underworld. Following the suspicious death of his multi-millionaire parents, Sionis had inherited their fortune and went on to bankrupt their company. Saved by a buyout by Bruce Wayne, Sionis came to resent and hate Wayne.
Since the actor has long since exited the role, passing on the mantle of Batman to Robert Pattinson, it would have been difficult to include Batman in Birds of Prey.
Does Batman appear in Birds of Prey? ›
It's a reference to a joke from the first episode of the Harley Quinn animated series on streaming platform DC Universe. The Caped Crusader doesn't appear in Birds of Prey, and his status in the DC Extended Universe at this point in the timeline is unknown.
Did Bruce survive in Birds of Prey? ›
When Quinn's apartment was bombed by Black Mask, Bruce was presumed dead in the explosion. However, he survived and escaped through unknown means. He later reunited with Quinn after the Birds of Prey defeated Sionis and his False Facers.
Why is Joker Rated R? ›
This is in line with the original “Joker,” which was rated R for “strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images.” Directed by Todd Phillips, “Joker: Folie à Deux” sees Phoenix reprise his role as the title character, with Gaga joining as his twisted lover Harley Quinn.
What does R stand for in movies? ›
Restricted: R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
Is Birds of Prey before Suicide Squad? ›
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is set about four years after the events of Suicide Squad and picks up after the Joker and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) break up.
Is Harley Quinn the same actress in Birds of Prey? ›
It stars Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, and Ewan McGregor.
Why was Batman not in Birds of Prey? ›
Since the actor has long since exited the role, passing on the mantle of Batman to Robert Pattinson, it would have been difficult to include Batman in Birds of Prey.
Was Birds of Prey renamed? ›
Despite the film being in the midst of its theatrical run, Warner Bros. has made the decision to rename the box office flop that was once known as Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn — or its abridged and more commonly used title, Birds of Prey.
