It may have proven to be a hit with critics and audiences (well, those who turned out to see it), but Warner Bros. and DC Film’s R-rated girl gang movie Birds of Prey failed to set the box office alight this past weekend, with the film opening below expectations to $33.3 million domestically and $81.3 million worldwide.
Well, in reaction to what’s proven to be the lowest opening for a DCEU movie to date, Screen Rant is reporting that the film is undergoing a change of title from Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, and is now being referred to as Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey on the likes of Regal Cinemas, AMC Theatres and Cinemark, apparently at the request of the studio.
It’s rare for a movie to undergo a title change post-release, although not completely unprecedented as Warner Bros. did rebrand the Tom Cruise sci-fi Edge of Tomorrow as Live Die Repeat. And while it’s likely a smart move in terms of name recognition – Harley Quinn is obviously much more recognisable to the general public than Birds of Prey – one would have to wonder how many people weren’t already fully aware of Harley’s presence in the film, given that she’s been all over the marketing material.
SEE ALSO: Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of Box Office Expectations)
What do you make of the Birds of Prey name change? It is a smart movie from Warner Bros.? Too late? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.
Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs) is directing Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) from a script by Christina Hodson (Bumblebee) with Margot Robbie reprising her Suicide Squad role as Harley Quinn alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Fargo) as The Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground) as Black Canary, Rosie Perez (Fearless) as Renee Montoya, Ella Jay Basco (Grey’s Anatomy) as Cassandra Cain, Ewan McGregor (Christopher Robin) as Black Mask, Chris Messina (Sharp Objects) as Victor Zsasz, Ali Wong (Black Box), Robert Catrini (Jack Reacher: Never Go Back), Steven Williams (The Chi), Dana Lee (Dr. Ken), Francois Chau (The Expanse) and Matthew Willig (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs).
