Ewan McGregor is usually the hero of his films. He was most recently seen playing the title role in the feel-good Disney movie ‘Christopher Robin’ and of course, for a generation, he is THE Obi-Wan Kenobi. But he is going to tread the dark side in Warner Brothers’ DC Comics-based ‘Birds of Prey’, the R-rated superhero flick, which stars Margot Robbie, reprising her role as Harley Quinn from ‘Suicide Squad’. In a film that is already packed with characters of questionable morals, McGregor plays the worst of the bunch, as mobster Black Mask. In the comics, Black Mask (real name Roman Sionis) is known for possibly being Batman’s most sadistic enemy, who derives pleasure in the cruelest forms of torture he can conceive.
Reportedly, in ‘Birds of Prey’, Black Mask will be aided by The Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), until she learns that he was responsible for her family’s deaths. After The Huntress leaves him, swearing to exact revenge, Black Mask brings in the teenage assassin Cassandra Cain to replace her.
The Huntress allies herself with Harley Quinn, Black Canary (Jurnee Smolett-Bell) and Detective Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) in an attempt to not only bring Sionis down, but to save Cassandra from going down the dark path he has laid before her.
Indie filmmaker Cathy Yan is directing, with a screenplay by Christina Hodson (‘Bumblebee’).
It was reported in September that Warner Brothers was hoping to land either McGregor or Sharlto Copely to play Black Mask, and lo and behold, they succeeded.
Last year, McGregor won a Golden Globe for his role on the third season of ‘Fargo’, on which he played the dual roles of twin brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy.
McGregor is currently filming ‘Doctor Sleep’, based on the Stephen King novel, which is a sequel to ‘The Shining’. McGregor is playing a grown-up Danny Torrance in this picture directed by Mike Flanagan. He is slated to lend his voice to the animated film ‘The Land of Sometimes’ and to star in the comedy ‘The Cow’. It’s unclear where ‘Birds of Prey’ will fall in his schedule.
What do you think of Ewan McGregor playing Black Mask in ‘Birds of Prey’?
Source: Deadline
