Recently, we got word that the Birds of Prey film has shortlisted its actresses for the film’s leading roles with a slew of talented women in consideration. The all female led group will see Margot Robbie reprising her role as Harley Quinn along with a bunch of other familiar female heroes and characters from DC comics. Things are moving forward nicely for the film however as the film has found its leading ladies for the roles of Black Canary and Huntress.
Deadline reports that Jurnee Smollett-Bell from the acclaimed Underground television series and Mary Elizabeth Winstead from 10 Cloverfield Lane have been cast for the roles of Black Canary and Huntress respectively. Not long ago, Smollett-Bell was shortlisted among others including the likes of Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Janelle Monae to take on the role of Dinah Lance a.k.a. Black Canary. As for Winstead, she was going against the likes Margaret Qualley and Cristin Milioti but it looks like Smollett-Bell and Winstead came out on top.The role of Rene Montoya, a detective from the Gotham police force has yet to be decided with Justin Machado from One Day at a Time and Vida‘s Roberta Colindrez in the run.
Black Canary is a vigilante with a ability to take down her enemies using her shrieking “canary cry”. Huntress has many iterations in the DC Universe but for the film, Huntress is a former mafioso princess who saw her family killed at a young age, hence becoming a vigilante (Where have we seen that before?).
Both Smollett-Bell and Winstead are great picks for this role and it’s safe to say this is going to be a pretty good film with solid performances. Smollett-Bell hasn’t been in many mainstream films but has seen great success in various television series including True Blood, Friday Night Lights and the aforementioned, Underground. Winstead needs no introduction, it’s awesome to see her back in a comic book adaptation having been in films like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, the aforementioned 10 Cloverfield Lane and the television series, Fargo. Things are looking good for this one.
Source: Deadline
