Harley Quinn is an adult animated web television series. It was announced on November 20, 2017 and premiered with "Til Death Do Us Part" on November 29, 2019 on DC Universe.
The series currently consists of four seasons and a special. The show has also seen several companion comic series, the first being Harley Quinn: The Animated Series - The Eat, Bang, Kill Tour which was released in September 2021. A spin-off series called Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (which was first announced under the working title Noonan's) is currently in the works.
Synopsis[]
Harley Quinn follows Harley's adventures after she breaks up with the Joker and strikes out on her own in this new, adult animated comedy. With the help of Poison Ivy and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, Harley tries to earn a seat at the biggest table in villainy: the Legion of the Doom.[1]
Cast and characters[]
Main cast[]
- Kaley Cuoco as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn[2]
- Lake Bell as Dr. Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy[2]
- Alan Tudyk as The Joker and Clayface
- Tony Hale as Dr. Edgar Cizko / Doctor Psycho[2][3] and Felix Faust[4]
- Ron Funches as Nanaue / King Shark[2]
- J.B. Smoove as Frank the Plant[2][5]
- Jason Alexander as Sy Borgman
Supporting cast[]
- Diedrich Bader as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Christopher Meloni as Commissioner James Gordon[2][5]
- Matt Oberg as Charles Brown / Kite Man and Anatoli Knyazev / KGBeast[5][4]
- James Adomian as Bane[5][4]
- Jim Rash as Edward Nygma / Riddler[2]
- Wanda Sykes as Tsaritsa / Queen of Fables
- Rahul Kohli as Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow[6]
- Sanaa Lathan as Selina Kyle / Catwoman[7]
- Vanessa Marshall as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman[8] and Doris Zeul / Giganta[4]
- Jacob Tremblay as Damian Wayne / Robin[9]
- Tisha Campbell-Martin as Tawny Young[5][4]
- Phil LaMarr as David Hyde / Black Manta and Jason Praxis[10][4]
- Andy Daly as Harvey Dent / Two-Face[4]
- Will Sasso as Maxie Zeus[4]
- Briana Cuoco as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl[4]
- Wayne Knight as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin
- Natalie Morales as Lois Lane
- James Wolk as Clark Kent / Superman
- Giancarlo Esposito as Lex Luthor
- Michael Ironside as Darkseid
Episodes[]
- Main article: List of Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | ||
| 1 | 13 | November 29, 2019 | February 21, 2020 | DC Universe |
| 2 | 13 | April 3, 2020 | June 26, 2020 | |
| 3 | 10 | July 28, 2022 | September 15, 2022 | HBO Max |
| Special | February 9, 2023 | |||
| 4 | 10 | July 27, 2023 | September 14, 2023 | Max |
Production[]
Concept art for Harley Quinn
- Poison Ivy
Uh, I think they're gonna hate it, Harls. They hate everything.
- Harley Quinn
No way! It's got comedy, action, incredibly gratuitous violence, and unlike that Deadpool cartoon, it's actually coming out!
— Ivy and Harley about their potential audience.[11]
In November 2017, it was announced that Warner Bros' then-unnamed DC-branded digital service ordered 26 half-hour episodes of Harley Quinn, a half-hour adult animated action-comedy series. It was being developed by Justin Halpern, Patrick Shumacker, and Dean Lorey, who served as executive producers on NBC's DC series Powerless. Harley Quinn was the third series to be greenlit by the DC digital service, following Titans and Young Justice: Outsiders. It was rumored that Margot Robbie, who portrayed Harley Quinn in the 2016 live action film Suicide Squad, would be approached to voice the character.[12]
On February 2018, multiple casting calls from the series were released.[13][14] On October 3, 2018, Warner Bros. Animation unveiled a first look at Harley Quinn at the New York Comic Con. Kaley Cuoco was announced as the voice actress for the titular character, also serving as an executive producer through her Yes, Normans Productions banner, with Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk, Ron Funches, J.B. Smoove, Jason Alexander, Wanda Sykes, Giancarlo Esposito, Natalie Morales, Jim Rash, Diedrich Bader, Tony Hale and Christopher Meloni cast in undisclosed roles.[15] It was later confirmed that Bell, Tudyk, Bader and Meloni would be voicing Poison Ivy, the Joker, Batman, and Jim Gordon, respectively.[2][16][5] On October 11, 2018, Rahul Kohli announced that he would be voicing Scarecrow.[6]
The same day the season one finale was released, it was revealed that a second season was already produced and would be available to stream on April 3, 2020, consisting of another 13 episodes.[17] On September 18, 2020, it was announced via Twitter that the the show was renewed for a third season which would premiere on HBO Max[18] as DC Universe would no longer host video content and all DC Universe originals would migrate to HBO Max.[19]
Release[]
On October 3, 2018, ahead of the annual New York Comic Con, a teaser trailer featuring Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Batman in Arkham was released.[20] A full, uncensored trailer set to Joan Jett's cover of the theme song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show was released on July 20, 2019 to coincide with the panel at San Diego Comic-Con.[21][22]
Harley Quinn premiered on DC Universe on November 29, 2019.[23] The first season started airing on Syfy on May 3, 2020.[24] The series airs on Adult Swim in Canada, with new episodes airing a week after their American premiere.[25] The series started airing on E4 in the United Kingdom and Ireland on May 7, 2020.[26]
Ask Harley Quinn (Uncensored) -- DC FanDome
In late June 2020, it was announced that the first two seasons would be coming to HBO Max on August 1, 2020.[27] On August 22, 2020, a fully animated Q&A featuring Harley Quinn was released as part of the DC Fandome event, wherein she answered questions from fans.[28]
The first season was released on DVD on June 2, 2020 and the second season was released on February 16, 2021 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.[29] The first two seasons were also released on Blu-ray in a box set by Warner Archive Collection on February 16, 2021.[30]
On August 21, 2020 the official season 1 and season 2 soundtracks, composed by Jefferson Friedman, were released online.[31]
DC FanDome 2021 - Harley Quinn Season 3 Teaser
On October 17, 2021 as part of that year's DC FanDome event, an animated teaser featuring Harley Quinn, King Shark and Kite Man presenting the first official look at the third season was released.[32] Just ahead of the season 3 release on June 29, 2022, the very first episode, "Til Death Do Us Part", was released in full to watch for free on the official HBO Max YouTube account.[33] The third season premiered on its new home-platform, HBO Max, on July 28, 2022.[34] Prior to the third season's conclusion, a fourth season was officially announced via the official Twitter account on 31st August, 2022.[35] In the meantime, s double-length standalone Valentine's Day special, titled "A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special", premiered on February 9, 2023.[36]
The first three episodes of the fourth season were released on July 27, 2023.[37] On August 1, the show's official Twitter posted an original animated short of Harley playing "smash or pass" featuring several characters from the show.[38]
On November 16, 2023, two months after the fourth season's conclusion, it was announced that Harley Quinn had been renewed for a fifth season.[39][40]
Awards and nominations[]
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Awards | January 25, 2020 | Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| Autostraddle Gay Emmys | September 2020 | Outstanding Animated Series | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| September 2021 | Outstanding Animated Series | Harley Quinn | Nominated | |
| Best Episode with LGBTQ+ Themes | "Something Borrowed" | Nominated | ||
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | January 10, 2021 | Best Animated Series | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| Best Voice Actress in an Animated Series | Kaley Cuoco | Won | ||
| Best Voice Actor in an Animated Series | J. B. Smoove | Nominated | ||
| GLAAD Media Award | April 8, 2021 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| Annie Awards | April 16, 2021 | Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Sarah Peters for "Something Borrowed, Something Green" | Nominated | ||
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | August 22, 2021 | Best Animated Series or Animated Television Movie | Harley Quinn | Won |
| Dorian TV Awards | August 29, 2021 | Best Animated Show | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| GLAAD Media Award | April 2, 2022 May 6, 2022 |
Outstanding Comic Book | Harley Quinn: The Animated Series - The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | January 15, 2023 | Best Animated Series | Harley Quinn | Won |
| Annie Awards | February 25, 2023 | Best Mature Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production | "Batman Begins Forever" | Nominated |
| GLAAD Media Award | March 30, 2023 May 13, 2023 |
Outstanding Comedy Series | Harley Quinn | Nominated |
| Gold Derby TV Awards | August 16, 2023 | Best Animated Program | Harley Quinn | Won |
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Streaming Animated Series or TV Movie | Harley Quinn | Pending |
Crew[]
- Justin Halpern - writer/executive producer[12]
- Patrick Schumacker - writer/executive producer[12]
- Dean Lorey - writer/executive producer (season 1-2)[12]
- Sam Register - executive producer[12]
- Jennifer Coyle - producer[12]
- Kaley Cuoco - executive producer[15]
- Chrissy Pietrosh - executive producer (season 3-present)[41]
- Jessica Goldstein - executive producer (season 3-present)[41]
Gallery[]
Promotional images[]
Promotional videos[]
References[]
- ↑ 'Harley Quinn' Release Window and Synopsis Revealed Russ Burlingame, Comicbook.com (June 28, 2018).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Kaley Cuoco to star in Harley Quinn series: 'It has definitely been empowering' Chancellor Agard, Entertainment Weekly (October 3, 2018).
- ↑ 'Harley Quinn': Alan Tudyk Explains How His Joker Is Different Than Mark Hamill's Charlie Ridgely, Comicbook.com, (February 12, 2019), access date 2019-03-08.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Harley Quinn Comes Out Swinging in Full Trailer Animation Magazine, Mercedes Milligan (November 12, 2019).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Alan Tudyk to Voice The Joker in Harley Quinn Animated Series Kevin Melrose, Comic Book Resources (October 25, 2018), access date October 26, 2018.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Well I’ve been given the go ahead to let you guys know one of the new projects I’ve been working on! Mans is the voice of SCARECROW! #HarleyQuinn Rahul Kohli, Twitter (October 11, 2018).
- ↑ Sanaa Lathan To Voice Catwoman In Harley Quinn Animated Series For DC Universe’s Streaming Service Blackfilm (June 17, 2019).
- ↑ “Plus? FYI! Xo #WonderWoman :) #Repost @thedcuniverse with @get_repost ・・・ Did you catch the sneak peek of #DCUHARLEYQUINN at #SDCC last…” Vanessa Marshall, Instagram (29 July, 2019).
- ↑ DC Universe’s ‘Harley Quinn’ Starring Kaley Cuoco Eyes New Perspectives On Familiar Caped Crusaders – TCA Amanda N'Duka, Deadline (July 23, 2019).
- ↑ Harley Quinn: Get a First Look at DC Universe's NSFW Animated Comedy Laura Prudom, IGN (August 19, 2019).
- ↑ Harley Quinn | New York Comic Con 2018 First Look | DC Universe | The Ultimate Membership DC, YouTube (October 9, 2018).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 ‘Harley Quinn’: DC Digital Service Orders Animated Comedy Series About Comic Book Villainess From ‘Powerless’ Trio Nellie Andreeva, Deadline Hollywood (November 20, 2017).
- ↑ DC's Animated Harley Quinn TV Show Character Descriptions Revealed Rose Moore, ScreenRant (February 7, 2018).
- ↑ Harley Quinn Animated Series Cast Includes Poison Ivy, King Shark & More Nicole Sobon, Comic Book Resources (February 7, 2018).
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Kaley Cuoco to Lead Star-Studded 'Harley Quinn' Voice Cast for DC Universe Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter (October 3, 2018).
- ↑ Diedrich Bader Voices Batman in 'Harley Quinn' Teaser Nicole Drum, Comicook.com (October 3, 2018).
- ↑ 'Harley Quinn' Is Coming Back To DC Universe For Season 2 Sooner Than You Think Alex Zalben, DECIDER (February 21, 2020).
- ↑ You didn't think we'd let you down, did ya Puddin'? Harley Quinn Season 3 is coming to HBO Max! HBO Max Twitter (September 18th, 2020).
- ↑ DC Universe Transforms Into DC Universe Infinite the Ultimate Comic Book Subscription Service DC Publicity, DCComics (September 18th, 2020).
- ↑ Harley Quinn cartoon trailer makes fun of Deadpool and DC’s dark, gritty movies Petrana Radulovic, Polygon (October 4, 2018)
- ↑ HARLEY QUINN Comic-Con® 2019 Video: First-Look Preview #WBSDCC (archived), Warner Bros. TV, YouTube (July 20, 2019).
- ↑ HARLEY QUINN Animated Series Comic-Con Trailer [HD] Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell] We Got This Covered,YouTube TV (July 21, 2019).
- ↑ Harley Quinn: November Premiere Date Revealed for DC Universe Series Joshua Yehl, IGN (October 6, 2019).
- ↑ ‘Harley Quinn’ Invades SYFY for Exclusive Cable Run Mercedes Milliga, Animation Magazine (April 22, 2020).
- ↑ Harley Quinn - Adult Swim Canada Premiere Promo (15 secs) I Miss Bionix, YouTube (November 13, 2019).
- ↑ Harley Quinn TV series to feature “all the classic big bads” of the Batman universe David Craig, UK: Radio Times (May 7, 2020).
- ↑ BIG NEWS: HARLEY QUINN SEASONS 1 & 2 HIT HBO MAX ON THE FIRST! GET ON THIS CLASSIC FROM @justin_halpern AND @PMSchumacker AND @deanloreySO WE CAN HAVE MORE OF IT! Merrill Barr, Twitter (July 20, 2020).
- ↑ [DC Fandome 2020] Ask Harley Quinn Tallulah Gray, The Cultured Nerd (August 22, 2020).
- ↑ Harley Quinn (TV Series) DVDs ReleaseDates, access date June 6, 2021.
- ↑ Harley Quinn: The Complete First and Second Seasons Blu-ray Warner Archive Collection, Blueray.com (February 16, 2021).
- ↑ OK nerds, Harley Quinn S1 & S2 soundtracks are alive! I hope you enjoy them; they were a labor of love... Jefferson Friedman, Twitter (August 21, 2020).
- ↑ ‘Harley Quinn’ Unveils First Look at Season 3 at DC FanDome Joe Otterson, Variety (October 17, 2021).
- ↑ In case you’ve been livin’ under a damn rock, my show is the sh*t! Stream the first episode for free now on http://youtube.com/hbomax. You’re welcome! @dcharleyquinn, Twitter (June 29, 2022).
- ↑ You asked and @hbomax answered, ya girl is getting a SEASON 4! @dcharleyquinn, Twitter (August 31, 2022).
- ↑ Harley Quinn Valentine's Special Set for February, Will Also Check In on Superman/Lois and Other Couples Matt Mitovich, TVLine (October 7, 2022).
- ↑ Harley Quinn Season 4 Sets July Release Date on Max Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine (June 23, 2023).
- ↑ Now that’s a lineup I can with! Call out your smashes in the comments, I’m trying to see something... @dcharleyquinn, Twitter (August 1, 2023).
- ↑ ‘Harley Quinn’ Nabs Season 5 Renewal at Max Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter (November 16, 2023).
- ↑ Max Renews Adult-Animated Series HARLEY QUINN For A Fifth Season Max, Pressroom, WBD (November 16, 2023).
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Harley Quinn Season 3 Preview With Showrunner Patrick Schumacker (31:51) wordballoon, YouTube (December 13th, 2020).