Chris Messina has joined the cast of Birds Of Prey (Or The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn). The Mindy Project co-star will be playing the villainous Victor Zsasz, a psychotic killer who craves a new hast mark onto his body for every person he kills.
John Leguizamo was originally in consideration for the role, but dropped out.
The character was created back in 1992 by writer Alan Grant and artist Norm Breyfogle for the Shadow Of The Bat comic book series as a dark mirror of Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne. Like Wayne, Zsasz was born into a family of wealth and privilege. After his parents died in a boating accident when he was in his mid-20s, Zsasz became depressed, which led to a gambling addiction that ultimately left him penniless. When his suicide attempt is interrupted by a chance encounter with a mugger, Zsasz had a psychotic break and kills the mugger and a new Batman family villain was born.
Birds of Prey gets in front of cameras early next year with Cathy Yan at the helm. As its title suggests, Margot Robbie will be reprising her role of Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad and will be joined by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain. Ewan McGregor will be playing the film’s chief bad guy Black Mask.
Birds Of Prey is set for a February 7, 2020 release.
