This morning, DC Entertainment provided fans with their first serious look ahead at DC Universe, their all-in-one service tying streaming video and digital comics as one direct-to-consumer package.
Among the revelations was an official synopsis and release window for next year’s animated series based on the Suicide Squad standout Harley Quinn.
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“DC Universe is so much more than a streaming service. It’s a welcoming place for everyone to immerse themselves in their own level of DC fandom, with the epic characters, stories, and experiences they have come to expect from DC,” said Jim Lee, chief creative officer and publisher, DC Entertainment, in a statement. “We are investing in and creating original, high-quality shows including the new Titans series, and curating the most beloved nostalgic content, while at the same time elevating the comic reading experience to new heights. Nothing this robust has ever been offered to fans before.”
Per the release, 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.
No telling, then, whether this series will introduce her romantic relationship with Poison Ivy — which has become a fan staple in recent years. Given that she has already split with Joker at the start of the series, though, as well as the prominent mention of Ivy, it seems possible and maybe even likely that will be a part of her journey.
At the time when Harley Quinn was announced, there was another mature-audiences comics series in devleopment: Deadpool, which has since been cancelled at FX. Since Harley and Deadpool share an over-the-top sensibility and blend humor with ultraviolence, there had been some questions about whether both could succeed. Instead, we are looking at a Harley series that will be the last clown standing as Deadpool’s future movies get more serious and add members of X-Force.
As most had expected, most of the DC Universe series are trailing Titans, rather than trying to get too much content out in 2018. Titans is coming to the DC Universe app later this year, making it the first original program released for the service. Doom Patrol, which spins out of Titans, will join Swamp Thing and the animated series Harley Quinn and Young Justice: Outsiders in releasing in 2019.
An assortment of DC’s superhero films will also be available at launch for exclusive viewing windows, including all four original Superman movies and classic TV shows remastered in HD which include, Batman: The Animated Series and the original Wonder Woman series. The service will feature a selection of epic animated movies including, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Green Lantern: First Flight, and Wonder Woman.
So far it does not appear any TV series currently on the air for other networks, or theatrical movies from DC’s current crop of interconnected superhero epics, will appear on the service — although Constantine, the NBC series that introduced Matt Ryan’s version of the character, is featured in the service’s sizzle reel, suggesting that it will be included. Ryan will bring his version of John Constantine to DC’s Legends of Tomorrow next season.
