While Wonder Woman has helped to steer the DC Extended Universe back on track, there's no denying that there's still a feeling of uncertainty surrounding the DCEU. Despite announcing countless projects over the past few years, only a few have begun active production, much less actually come to fruition. One of the most recent moves has seen Warner Bros. hire the writer slated to script its Birds of Prey movie to pen Batgirl, leading us to question whether previously announced Gotham City Sirens film is still happening -- or if the Birds of Prey film has taken its place.

Despite landing Suicide Squad director David Ayer back in 2016, little to no movement has been seen on Gotham City Sirens. Ayer, of course, has been tied up with the fantasy movie, Bright, on Netflix, and its forthcoming sequel, which he'll return to direct. Furthermore, he has continued to state that even with his busy schedule, Gotham City Sirens is still very much alive and he's still attached to direct. However, following the news that Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson is now working on Batgirl, it would seem that Gotham City Sirens is, at least temporarily, on the backburner. After all, according to reports, not only is Hodson now penning a second DC film, but the studio is thought to be taking the next the next step with her Harley Quinn-led Birds of Prey script.

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So, what the heck is going on? Is Gotham City Sirens no more, or is Birds of Prey, which was originally teased back in 2016, Robbie's secret Harley Quinn-led feature? The DC Extended Universe's constant state of change makes it a bit difficult top know for sure, of course. Following the poor reception of Justice League, Warner Bros. made some big changes behind the scenes that have altered the studio's plans going forward. Along with seemingly cutting all ties with Zack Snyder behind the camera, it has shifted towards hiring more Oscar-caliber directors such as Matt Reeves and Ava DuVernay for The Batman and New Gods, while saying goodbye to Joss Whedon's previously announced take on Batgirl.

To say that the DCEU's slate is ever-changing would be putting it lightly. The studio appears to be trying to figure out how it wants to approach its cinematic universe, and as such is taking the necessary steps to essentially rebuild after numerous critical bombs. Which is why the reports suggesting Birds of Prey is moving forward, with absolutely no mention of Gotham City Sirens, is so interesting.

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When The Wrap reported on Hodson's hiring for the Batgirl film, it also confirmed that Warner Bros. was "high" on Hodson's script for Birds of Prey, and that it had begun to send it out to potential directors. Prior to this, we'd operated under the assumption that Gotham City Sirens was merely on hold, but it now seems as though Gotham City Sirens and Birds of Prey may have been two separate Harley Quinn-led projects Warner Bros. was developing as potential vehicles for Robbie with the intention of only moving ahead with one or the other. It could very well be that the pieces surrounding and Birds of Prey or Gotham City Sirens are simply interchangeable. After all, Batgirl is now back on track with Hodson set to pen the script following Joss Whedon's exit. Perhaps with that project now moving ahead, Warner Bros. has decided to shift focus from Gotham City Sirens to Birds of Prey simply because of the logical connection to Barbara Gordon.

Of course, it could be that there are indeed two different films that are being developed alongside one another. We know Warner Bros. is high on Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn and has been developing multiple projects for the actress, including a Harley Quinn and Joker film as well as a solo Harley Quinn feature. Perhaps, rather than completely shelving Gotham City Sirens, Warner Bros. merely added yet another Harley Quinn-related flick to its ever-shifting slate. It's entirely possible; after all, while Suicide Squad was critically panned, Robbie's Quinn was nearly universally praised by fans, and many have been eager to see her make her DCEU return sooner rather than later. It wouldn't be a surprise, then, to learn she's essentially leading her own slate of movies.

Interestingly, late last year, Robbie commented on her role as a producer on Gotham City Sirens and revealed that she felt it was important to stand by your choice in director. "You can’t stand by your director and second guess everything," she explained. "There are times when you step in and debate a certain situation." Although there was very little she could reveal regarding the project, Robbie made it clear that a producer's role is to ensure a director gets to tell their story as they envision it. The actress seemed fond of her working relationship wit Ayer, so if the project has indeed been temporarily shelved, it's more than likely was because the studio decided Hodson's script for Birds of Prey was the better of the two options.

RELATED: Margot Robbie is Working on a ‘Totally Separate’ Harley Quinn Movie

For now, a Harley Quinn-led Birds of Prey movie seems all but confirmed, but that doesn't necessarily mean Gotham City Sirens is no more. After all, if we've learned one certainty about the DCEU, it's that nothing is ever set in stone.


The next film Robbie’s Harley Quinn will appear in is Suicide Squad 2. Written and directed by Gavin O’Connor, Suicide Squad 2 is currently slated for a 2019 opening.