Actor Jurnee Smollett made her superhero debut in Warner Bros.' Birds of Prey, in which she played Black Canary. Before taking on the role, she turned to others who joined comic book films, including Marvel Cinematic Universe star Samuel L. Jackson.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Smollett revealed, "I just remember I called a bunch of my mentors who had more experience in the comic book world. Like Samuel L. Jackson, I remember calling him and being like, 'OK, so like, yo, what do I do? Is there a way in which I should approach this any differently than how I would approach any other character? I always do so much research of the world.' And he said, 'Baby, just go and piss on your territory.'"
Late last year it was reported a spinoff centered on Black Canary was in the works. Misha Green is attached to write while Smollett will return as the titular superhero. When news surfaced, the actor wrote, "Guess the Canary is out of the cage! So excited to finally embark on this adventure with my creative soul sis [Misha Green]." It was uncertain whether the project would be a film or television show, though there is speculation a show is likelier. Since the initial report, no further details on the project have been released.
Despite generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn failed to impress at the box office, earning $201 million worldwide on a budget of $85 million. The film saw the return of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and united her with the members of the titular vigilante group, including Huntress, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead; Renee Montoya, played by Rosie Perez; Cassandra Cain, played by Ella Jay Basco; and Black Canary, played by Smollett.
Samuel L. Jackson has played a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since he made his debut as Nick Fury in 2008's Iron Man. He returned as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D in Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger and Avengers, uniting Earth's Mightiest Heroes and going on to become one of its closest allies. He last appeared in Spider-Man: Far From Home and is set to make his return in the upcoming Secret Invasion series on Disney+.
Birds of Prey is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter