Birds of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson is getting the chance to play in several different DC worlds, with The Flash and Batgirl apparently following after Harley Quinn gets emancipated on February 7. Given the labor of love that this particular film was, the fruit of years working alongside star Margot Robbie, it’s clear that Hodson has a passion for DC and its characters.

She shared some of that passion with Screen Rant at a London press event for the film, explaining how much freedom she had to research the story and how she and Robbie both fell for Harley and the Birds of Prey. Now there’s only the question of what she’ll get to do with The Flash.

This film is wholly different in the DC Universe, but it’s still placed right in the heart of the DCEU. Was that a difficult balance to maintain?

I’ve been a fan of Harley Quinn since Batman: The Animated Series. Talk to me about the process of getting into the mind of Harley Quinn.

Christina Hodson: Yes and no. I mean, honestly, the thing that I love about the DCEU is that we are as creatives free to kind of play around and do these different tones, different styles. They’ve been so supportive of that from the beginning. So, it was fun to kind of do the research, get to know all of the other projects, get to know kind of what’s out there, but then also kind of do our own standalone thing that felt like its own unique piece.

I love that this roster of Birds of Prey all has a purpose within the story. And each one of their purposes is completely different. Was there any other characters that you may have toyed with, that you were thinking about including, but either wanted to save for later or just didn’t quite work?

Christina Hodson: Pure fun. No, it was amazing. And, of course, spending that much time with Margot. We’ve been working on this for about four and a half years. We started by doing a huge amount of research. She was obviously already deep into Harley by then; she was still shooting Suicide Squad.

But, really, we just did a lot of reading; a lot of falling in love with Harley and then both just kind of… I won’t say we adopted the Harley Quinn moral compass, but getting to know it so well that it felt really natural and really innate. So that, between the two of us, we always knew who she would punch in the face, who she would kind of take care of. It just kind of felt natural by the end.

This movie’s full of empowerment in a great, great story with all these females. Can you talk to me about how that felt bringing that to the screen?

Christina Hodson: Yes, but I can’t reveal any secrets about who and what and when and where and why.

By the way, this version of Black Mask is amazing. Ewan McGregor knocks it out of the park.

Christina Hodson: Yeah, honestly, it just happened pretty organically and naturally. It began, just as you say, with these four individual stories. And it kind of naturally came about that, thematically, each one of these characters feels in some way kind of trapped. So the emancipation isn’t just of Harley Quinn, it’s of all of the characters, all of the heroes and even in some ways the villain as well. That theme kind of rang true for all of them; that arc of empowerment and emancipation would kind of come out.

Equally creepy and funny at the same time; great balance. These are all very street level characters in Gotham City. Is this a part of the DCEU that you kind of want to stay in, or is do you want to explore a little bit more? I know you’ve got Flashpoint as well coming up.

Christina Hodson: He’s fantastic.

I was talking with John Cena not too long ago, and him and I got into a discussion about Bumblebee, because I love that movie. But I have a theory, and maybe you can confirm or deny. My theory is that this was a soft reboot of Transformers, but also it seemed like a soft reboot of GI Joe because John Cena could be the Duke character. John Cena wanted me to ask: can you confirm that or deny?

Christina Hodson: Yeah, listen, I love saying on this level. Exactly as you say, street level. It felt right for these characters. As you know, most of them are not metahuman - Canary being the cheeky exception.

But, yeah, I’m also really enjoying playing with some of the bigger stuff in Flash. I love all sides of the DCEU, that’s why I’m very, very grateful they’re letting me kind of have a hand in a few different things.

Well, he said put it out in the world, so I may as well.

Christina Hodson: John told you to ask me?

Well, let’s hope it’s true.

Christina Hodson: I’m not gonna comment on that. He’s so cheeky.

Where would you like to see some of these characters go next?

Christina Hodson: Let’s cross fingers.

More: Cathy Yan Birds of Prey Interview

Christina Hodson: Everywhere. I want to see them take over!

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