Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the filmmaking duo best known for directing the 2011 comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love and serving as executive producers and directors on the NBC drama This Is Us, are reportedly in final negotiations to write and direct an untitled Warner Bros. and DC feature centered on two of the Batman universe’s most notorious characters: The Joker and Harley Quinn.
According to industry reporting, the studio’s plan is to position this project after the yet-to-be-directed sequel to Suicide Squad. Executives are said to be moving quickly to secure the creative team while actor-holding deals are still active, indicating a desire to advance the project into formal development without long delays.
Reports indicate Jared Leto’s version of The Joker will play a larger part in the upcoming Suicide Squad sequel and is expected to reprise the role in the Joker–Harley Quinn feature. Margot Robbie, who has become closely associated with Harley Quinn across several DC films since her breakout performance, is also expected to return as Quinn.
This news arrives amid other DC developments, including plans for a separate Joker origins film from Todd Phillips and Martin Scorsese. That stand-alone origins project is described independently from the Joker–Harley Quinn film and could involve a different creative approach to the character.
Jared Leto’s interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime divided critics and audiences when it first appeared on screen, while Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was widely praised and helped propel her further into mainstream stardom. Any new film that pairs these two characters will inevitably have to grapple with past portrayals—particularly the depiction of their relationship in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. Many observers have criticized that portrayal as straying from key elements of the characters’ comic-book origins and for romanticizing a relationship some consider abusive or problematic, raising concerns about influence on younger viewers.
Those creative and ethical questions are likely to shape how the filmmakers approach tone, character dynamics, and narrative focus. With Glenn Ficarra and John Requa attached as writers and directors, the project could take a fresh tonal direction. Early descriptions of the film have been vivid and shorthand-like, with at least one source labeling it “When Harry Met Sally on benzedrine,” suggesting a charged, possibly unconventional romantic-comic energy between the leads rather than a straightforward superhero origin story.
At this stage, the film remains in very early development. No official title, release date, or casting confirmations have been publicly announced by Warner Bros. or DC, and details may change as the project moves through screenwriting, casting, and scheduling phases. Studios often refine or rework concepts in response to creative input, test audiences, and broader franchise strategy, so the eventual tone and scope of the Joker–Harley Quinn film could differ substantially from early descriptions.
For fans and observers, the involvement of established filmmakers like Ficarra and Requa raises expectations for a film that balances character-driven drama with dark comedy. Their past work indicates a capacity for both sharp, emotionally resonant storytelling and offbeat humor—qualities that could inform a new take on two characters who have long fascinated readers and viewers.
In the months ahead, attentions will likely shift to how Warner Bros. coordinates this project alongside other DC films, including the proposed Joker origins project. Until the studio confirms casting, creative plans, and a production timeline, the Joker–Harley Quinn feature remains an intriguing but tentative addition to the DC slate.
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