Harley Quinn series made to change Aquaman portrayal by DC

Photo credit: DC Universe
Photo credit: DC Universe

From Digital Spy

DC's animated series Harley Quinn was forced to change its depiction of Aquaman during the development stage.

The King of Atlantis – played by Jason Momoa – in the Worlds of DC, was apparently re-conceived for the new show, but studio heads weren't pleased with the vision and asked writers to start from scratch.

Speaking to Metro, showrunner Justin Halpern revealed all.

Photo credit: DCEU - DC Comics
Photo credit: DCEU - DC Comics

Related: Harley Quinn TV series boss reveals how they cast The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco

"We kept in almost everything," he said of Harley Quinn's original material. "The only thing we took out – that we were asked to take out by DC – was we had a take on Aquaman that I think was in a direction I don't think they wanted Aquaman to go down.

"[In the film] Jason Momoa is kind of a bro type, like fraternity type and so we dialled that up to like one thousand, and I think it made the character too ridiculous – even for them.

"So then we put a new take on the character."

Photo credit: Warner Bros.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Related: Aquaman 2 is "mapped out", says Jason Momoa

Halpern also weighed in on why Margot Robbie didn't revisit her character in animated form, explaining: "Margot was never going to be able to do it because she was doing the Birds Of Prey film and a million other things.

"We talked with Margot a couple times but only in so much as, 'Here's what we're doing, I don't know what you guys are doing'. I think they wanted to make sure there wasn't too much overlap between this show and the movie."

Harley Quinn is now available on streaming service DC Universe.


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