That was pretty evident, as early as when we got to test the animatics with a couple of the early episodes’ focus groups. And while these are sort of bastardized versions of all the characters, for the most part, they still have their core moral compass. But I think since the show has come out, fans have appreciated that yeah, we’re making a lot of jokes at the expense of these characters, but it is done with love, and with a pretty deep knowledge of their legacies. My interpretation of the online reaction there was quite a bit of concern from the fans that we were only going to be poking fun at these beloved characters, and it wouldn’t be done with love. It seemed maybe a little bit off-brand, this idea that we’re kind of taking the piss, making fun of some of this world.
But still, even when the trailer first came out, I think people had a lot of questions. That was just an independently animated piece that was used for promotional purposes, which kind of set the tone, and people seemed genuinely excited about that. All the production drafts were actually done all the way back then, so we really had no idea what expect, other than the nominal reactions that we got from the New York Comic Con teaser. The writers’ room started as early as November of 2017 and finished in January of 2019, so we had all the story arced out. PATRICK SCHUMACKER: Well, we wrote the first two seasons in a complete vacuum. What has that been like to see? Were you confident from the get-go in the show’s success? Below, its creators discuss this transition, teasing Season 3 plot details, and their interest in making an animated Harley Quinn film.ĭEADLINE: Harley Quinn has attracted a major audience since its debut last year.
In September, news emerged that the series was renewed for a third season, and that it would be moving permanently to HBO Max. But with the Harley Quinn series, Halpern and Schumacker wanted to dive deeper into the complexities of the character than any live-action DC film has-at the same time, opening the door to other R-rated, animated comic book adaptations.