Harley Quinn - Blazing Shadows -- a new DC Comics-inspired fan film from the Berlin-based Think Big Studios -- tackles the redemption of Harley Quinn, the former Clown Princess of Crime, following her separation from the notorious Joker.
Blazing Shadows is currently available for free on Think Big's YouTube channel. The film follows Harley (ShiSha Rainbow) five years after her breakup with the Joker (Bardo Böhlefeld). Harley has left Gotham and moved back to her native Brooklyn, where she now lives with her girlfriend, Poison Ivy (Melanie Hagen). However, "doubts, pain and fear" swirl as Harley begins to long for her days as a supervillain.
The film includes a meta prologue, which features Trang Le Hong as a live-action version of Punchline, as well as Black Panther stuntwoman Marie Mouroum as Catwoman. In addition to its DC characters, the fan film also has a few original creations, namely Authority (played by screenwriter Florian Müssener) and central antagonist Kitsune (Johannes Heinrich).
Director/producer Thomas Bernecker (who financed the project) and his collaborators produced the movie in their free time over a two-year period, with filming having taken place in Berlin over the course of eight days in December of 2019. Think Big explains the 35-minute fan film began with an idea similar to that behind DC's official January 2020 theatrical release Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).
"We have always seen Harley as so much more than just a supporting character," Bernecker explained. "Harley Quinn has the full potential to exist as an independent character. My wish, as a fan of Harley Quinn, was that there should be a film in which Harley plays the leading role and that we should be able to experience her character in all its facets." The version of Harley seen in the film wears her classic jester outfit from Batman: The Animated Series, albeit without the cap. Explaining this decision, Bernecker said, "In our opinion, this version of Harley is still the most popular original -- the one we fell in love with in the comics and Batman."
Of course, as a fan film based on characters owned by DC and Warner Bros., Blazing Shadows cannot engage in commercial activities of its own, though has been screened at conventions ahead of its YouTube premiere. "We want to respect the copyrights and make no profit from the creative and marketing power of the creators," said Bernecker. "It is rather an appreciation for the creators and the lovingly designed characters and worlds around Harley Quinn, Joker, Batman and Gotham."
Directed by Thomas Bernecker, Think Big Studios' Harley Quinn - Blazing Shadows stars ShiSha Rainbow as Harley Quinn, Melanie Hagen as Poison Ivy, Johannes Heinrichs as Kitsune, Bardo Böhlefeld as Joker, Trang Le Hong as Punchline, Florian Müssener as Authority, Aptera Cosplay as Riddler, Tenraii as Robin, Amadei Weiland as Batman and Marie Mouroum as Catwoman.
Source: YouTube\Think Big Studios