While it has not yet been announced who will be playing the character of Black Canary in the upcoming Birds of Prey film, word has now gotten out that Warner Bros. might be interested in casting a biracial actress to play the character.
This report comes from Heroic Hollywood, which claims to have been clued in by an inside source that the studio is currently looking for “an actress to play a world-weary Black Canary who has the ability to sing.” Whether or not this is the character that Lady Gaga was initially eyed for remains unclear.
RELATED: Birds of Prey: Fans Are Pushing for M:I – Fallout’s Vanessa Kirby to Play Black Canary
Whatever the case may be, this report suggests that Warner Bros. is now looking to go a different direction with the character altogether, adding some diversity to the Birds of Prey’s first theatrical appearance in a way that will likely lend itself to social commentary.
However, it is worth mentioning that while Black Canary has always been portrayed as a white female in the DC comic books, the prospect of a mixed-race Black Canary is definitely not without precedent. Afterall, Juliana Harkavy, who plays Dinah Drake/Black Canary on Arrow is biracial herself.
RELATED: Rumor: DC’s Birds of Prey Movie Eyeing Killing Eve Star
In addition to Black Canary, Birds of Prey will also give characters such as Huntress, Cassandra Cain and Renee Montoya their big screen debuts. That said, none of these roles have been officially cast either. However, seeing as how the start of principal photography for the film is just around the corner, those following its development can likely expect some sort of announcement in regard to casting in the coming months.
Directed by Cathy Yan, DC’s Birds of Prey is set to begin principal photography on Jan. 5, 2019. The film currently does not have a release date.