Harley Quinn made her first appearance in How Joker & Harley Quinn Met In Batman: The Animated Series "Mad Love"
Harley Proves Batman Villains Don't Always Need To Be From Comics
Harley Quinn may not have originated in DC Comics like other famous Batman villains, but the character has enjoyed lasting success since her introduction in Batman: The Animated Series. The character's current prevalence across DC media is a testament to the fact that iconic characters do not necessarily need to originate from DC comics. The wildly popular Harley Quinn HBO series provided significant depth, with Margot Robbie's charmingly manic live-action interpretation garnering acclaim across multiple films.
However, Margot Robbie has also been vocal about further expanding the character beyond that of Batman movie villainy or Joker: Folie a Deux, that the character will now be portrayed by yet another prominent actor in an entirely separate story highlights the need for someone to follow in Harley's footsteps and become another original Batman villain.
The Batman 2 May Introduce Original Villains
As compelling and numerous as the Caped Crusader's adversaries are, there has been a tendency to focus on recycled Batman villains from the comics. This is a precedent that should be abandoned for The Batman 2. Matt Reeves' The Batman sequel should mirror the approach of Batman: The Animated Series by introducing a fresh villain not found in the comics. This tactic has proven prosperous for Harley Quinn, as the character has been confirmed to return in James Gunn's new DCU plans, and it will allow Reeves and his team creative flexibility to imagine a new and intimidating villain suitable for The Batman's darker tone and storytelling.
However, there are no plans to incorporate The Batman 2 into Gunn and Safran's rebooted DCU, as confirmed by Gunn on Twitter. Given this independence from Gunn's wider DCU, there has never been a better opportunity for an inventive Batman movie villain. Gunn can create an ideal future for DC Studios by weaving in a healthy mix of familiar Batman villains while allowing Matt Reeves to experiment in The Batman 2 with an entirely new villain, just as Paul Dini did with Harley Quinn's introduction in Batman: The Animated Series.
