Birds of Prey screenwriter Christina Hodson has divulged what she thinks is the appeal of Harley Quinn and Batgirl.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Hodson talked about her love of Harley. According to the writer, Harley does not fit into any one mould. She can be funny and sad, while balancing on the line of good and bad.
I just fell in love with Harley. She makes me laugh, but she also makes me cry…. She’s got such emotional depth that is completely contrasted by this light, superficial, fun exterior. That makes her so interesting and so much more real, because that’s what people are like in real life. Very few people are just purely heroic or purely villainous, and she is this wonderful balance of everything.
There is a level of unpredictability to Harley. Hodson pinpointed that this unconventional nature is the source of Harley’s appeal.
Hodson on Batgirl… Sorta?
Hodson also went on to talk about Batgirl. As the screenwriter on the solo Batgirl movie, Hodson likes how she is similar to Batman, yet different at the same time.
She’s all the things I love about Batman. I’ve always been more interested in humans than supernatural things and monsters. People are capable of profound good, but also profound evil. The things that people will do when you back them into a corner are amazing, terrifying, and wonderful at the same time, and it draws out these primal things in us — good and bad. And that, to me, is so fascinating.
To be honest, this quote about Batgirl is hard to track. What is it about Batgirl’s character that makes her uniquely “Primal”, as Hodson puts it? Her quote is a little odd, because it says nothing that truly represents or gives insight to Batgirl.
If anything, Batgirl’s appeal is how she is the sunnier Batman. She is not driven by vengeance or a death of a loved one. She is is inspired by Batman and is intrinsically good enough to want to help others. Additionally, Batgirl’s youthful personality gives her a more upbeat side of the Bat-universe. When she lived in Burnside, her adventures felt trendy and hip. Super heroics according to Batgirl felt more like a cool lifestyle choice.
Birds of Prey hits theaters February 7, 2020.