Rejoice, all who may have begun to lose hope of seeing any more of the absolutely incredible Harley Quinn animated series on HBO Max. It may have been a while since any news has come out about the show, and that would be enough to make even the most loyal viewers begin to waver in their faith. But the gods of irreverent cartoons have blessed the masses this day, and those blessings seem to be multiplying.
Patrick Schumacker, who co-created the surprisingly wonderful series known as Harley Quinn on HBO Max, just announced that a spinoff to the delightfully violent animated series is currently in the works on the same service. During a panel at the SXSW event in Austin, Texas, Schumacker teased the project while giving a talk with several Warner Bros. executives. So at the very least, fans can rest easy knowing this wasn't just some off-the-cuff comment. The higher-ups are apparently cool with it, which is still something that's admittedly hard to believe concerning a show that once featured Harley and Ivy having a heart-to-heart while force-feeding toxic waste to greedy CEOs.
The spinoff, reportedly titled Noonan's, will apparently feature fan-favorite character Kite Man from the Harley Quinn series as he attempts to run Noonan's Bar, a legendary watering hole for Gotham City's various crooks and goons. Looks like the poor guy who got turned down by Poison Ivy after finally proving himself in the original series has some new aspirations. "He tries to run the bar by himself, but it doesn't turn out so easy," Schumacker explained during the panel. "We have Harley and Ivy appear in the first episode, but after that, we have with different goons and villains appearing every episode like Lex Luthor and Bane. It will be kind of like Cheers for supervillains."
That premise alone is enough to crank up the excitement. Harley Quinn, which Schumacker has described as a violent Mary Tyler Moore Show, has some of the funniest and most clever writing out there, particularly when it comes to animated series. Combine that penchant for snappy dialogue (and its decidedly un-family-friendly vibes) with the tried and true format of Cheers, and it sounds like a recipe for something a lot of people didn't realize they desperately wanted. Just imagine the possibilities. Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell have already charmed audiences for 2 seasons with their fantastic portrayals of Harley and Ivy, respectively. So it will be interesting to see what kind of cast Noonan's will boast.
But for those who just want more news on Harley Quinn season 3, there are still a few tidbits to offer. "We have an episode that's a big love letter to Batman: The Animated Series," Schumacker teased regarding what to expect from season 3. "We even got some original backgrounds from the show that we use in the episode." While there's no concrete release date for the show's next season, he did have one more super cool reveal regarding none other than The Suicide Squad director and Peacemaker series creator James Gunn making an appearance in the series. "He is playing himself," Schumacker revealed, "and is directing a movie about Thomas Wayne." Veep star Sam Richardson has also been confirmed for the upcoming season, albeit in a mystery role.
Sure, it's a little frustrating having to wait so long for more Harley Quinn, particularly given how original and hilarious the show is. But knowing that there's so much in the works, even including a spinoff, is surely enough to keep that hopeful spirit up. Harley and Ivy are just starting their new relationship, and anything that awesome is definitely worth waiting for.
Harley Quinn seasons 1-2 are available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: SlashFilm