'Harley Quinn' movie news, release date: Warner Bros. moves forward with spin-off film

A screenshot from "Suicide Squad" featuring the character Harley QuinnWarner Bros. Pictures

"Suicide Squad" was a divisive film from Warner Bros., receiving mixed reviews but still managing to earn over $745 Million worldwide. Because of the financial success, Warner Bros. is moving forward with a spin-off film focusing on "Suicide Squad" character Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie.

According to The Wrap, the film is not just going to be a Harley Quinn film, but it will also showcase the "Birds of Prey," a term used for different groups in DC Comics. In the comic books, it is often used for a team of vigilantes comprised of female characters, usually heroes or anti-heroes such as Oracle, Black Canary, and Batgirl.

In this iteration, the Birds of Prey will be comprised of the likes of Harley Quinn, Katana, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman. However, this roster of characters is yet to be confirmed. Katana has been portrayed in "Suicide Squad" by Karen Fukuhara.

The report further reveals that writer Christina Hodson has been signed on to pen the script for the film. She is known for working on the upcoming "Bumblebee" spin-off from the "Transformers" franchise and has also penned the script for the reboot of "The Fugitive." Her script for a film titled "The Eden Project" is also getting attention now that it has been picked up by Sony and Material Pictures.

Robbie is also producing the film. Her company, LuckyChap Entertainment, has signed a first-look deal with Warner, indicating that they will have the luxury of developing any films that she is involved in. This will include the "Harley Quinn" or the "Birds of Prey" movie.

The actress gained popularity after her performance in the Martin Scorsese film, "The Wolf of Wall Street," which saw her acting opposite legendary actor and Academy Award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio.

No official release date has yet been announced for the film, but given Warner Bros. Pictures' current schedule for their DCEU films, it is likely that the movie will not premiere until 2019.