DC may end 2019 with a big win for its Joker movie, but the studio is really gearing up for a big run in 2020. DC’s 2020 slate will be all about the ladies, with the much-hyped summer sequel Wonder Woman 1984, and the highly-anticipated debut of DC’s Birds of Prey. We’ve now gotten the first official teaser footage for Birds of Prey, plus an official poster. That’s not much, but it’s certainly been enough for DC fans and trolls alike to form some immediate (snap?) judgements about the film. One of the earliest targets of fan rancor? Ewan McGregor‘s take on the character of Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask!
Videos by ComicBook.com
Scroll below for a sampling of what DC fans are saying about McGregor’s version of Black Mask in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)!
No Mask, No Love
The poster is cool….but Ewen ISN’T wearing a Black Mask and it’s pissing me off. #BirdsOfPrey https://t.co/r1XkTLDck7
— A Bleeding Corpse 🧟♂️ (@ABleedingCorpse) September 17, 2019
The fact that Birds of Prey has debuted imagery of Black Mask – without actually featuring the signature black mask – immediately got a certain sector of DC fans riled up.
#NotMyBlackMask
Congrats @WBHomeEnt @wbpictures for that shit. What to expect from a company that doesn’t respect fans and characters? pic.twitter.com/BlizV10O2C
— braziliancollector_ (@braziliancolle2) September 17, 2019
It’s literally the exact same costume except the shirt and the mask…….. https://t.co/cYf2OXB4bL
— Mikey At 134k (@Mikey_Talks) September 17, 2019
Ewan McGregor’s Black Mask performance may have had slightly concerned, based on the Birds of Prey trailer, but the poster image has sealed the “controversy” for some. For others, the poster is simply teasing a version of Roman Sionis that hasn’t yet gone full Black Mask.
This is Black Mask
Are you sure? Do you know who the Black Mask is? pic.twitter.com/SLaXMngbA1
— braziliancollector_ (@braziliancolle2) September 17, 2019
Other DC fans are bringing out the receipts to prove that whatever is going on with McGregor in these Birds of Prey promo materials, it is still not a proper fit for who and what Black Mask is.
Rumor Troubles
Im curious if @AngryJoeShow knows of the leaked plot for this wonderful movie. Black Mask is flamboyantly gay (has crush on Zsasz) and is pissed Cassandra Cain stole his dick pics which are in a diamond. Also Harley will narrate it breaking the 4th wall
— Clint Evans (@ClintEvans_) September 17, 2019
One things that seems to clearly be influencing the discussion about Ewan McGregor’s Black Mask performance in Birds of Prey are those rumored script leaks about the film. As you can see above, those leaks paint a very… different kind of picture for who Black Mask is, and it is not anything that fans would expect.
The Next DCEU Victim
they really about to ruin black mask 🙁 his design is kinda awful
— 🤠 (@dolphinlord25) September 17, 2019
The DC movie franchise hasn’t had a very beloved or celebrated track record when it comes to adapting characters for the movie screen – certainly not in the case of villains. Lex Luthor and Joker were two very big misses for the franchise, and some fans are beginning to feel that Black Mask is going to be the next big miss.
Miami Vice
What really disappoints me is if the guy in white jacket is black mask then not sure why they decided to make him look like like a Miami goon and have no mask that suppose to have fused to his face same for the other guy if that’s victor
— Mad man in a hat (@MadHatterAsylum) September 17, 2019
The biggest problem for some DC fans isn’t that Black Mask is appearing here without his mask – it’s that Roman looks like the same attempt at creating a “modern gangster” archetype that resulted in Jared Leto’s much
Worse Than Suicide Squad
This is beyond parody. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but Birds of Prey could make Suicide Squad look like The Dark Knight in comparison pic.twitter.com/iaFSlPnZvz
— Matt Invictus (@Atlanta962) September 17, 2019
Whether justified or not, Birds of Prey causing fans to doubt that it could be better than Suicide Squad is a horrible Public Relations shadow that the film now has to escape from under.
The Right Black Mask
Also: that Black Mask? Dude, I wanted him to be deadly killer who sells girls. I wont surprise if that movie will be another “weak movie with great cast”. pic.twitter.com/avyRZU36Ue
— ScarletMature (@ScarletMature) September 17, 2019
This fan isn’t just complaining about what she doesn’t like – she (and a lot of other fans) have a clear indication of the version of Black Mask they wanted to see onscreen.
It’s Harley’s Fault
Judging by the poster I think Grace Randolph might be right about Black Mask… Also it’s not even Birds of Prey it’s basically Harley Quinn Stealing The Show
— I’m A Loser Like You!!!!! (@VenomIAm_) September 17, 2019
Some fans are already beginning to turn on Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn for this and many other problems with Birds of Prey. As they see it, Harley isn’t a true piece of the Birds of Prey brand (in the comics its a team of Gotham City Heroines only…), and therefore spinning this film in her direction is bending if not breaking DC Comics continuity.
Going to Be Lit
I’m going to get so much hate for this but I’m just going to say it. Those that think that Birds of Prey will be bad because Black Mask might not have his Mask need to stop being dramatic. 🤷🏾♂️
— AJ Fairnot (@AJ_GeekVibes) September 17, 2019
Ps. Roman will have the mask in Birds of Prey pic.twitter.com/cDmhhPcaAt
Some DC fans never let their hopes get dragged down, and this fan is keeping that spark alive with some level-headed prediction that Birds of Prey *will* give us the Black Mask we want and deserve, once the full film is out for fans to see.
Upcoming DC movies include Joker on October 4th, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) on February 7, 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5, 2020, The Batman on June 25, 2021, The Suicide Squad on August 6, 2021, and Aquaman 2on December 16, 2022.
