Harley Quinn Season 4 - What We Know So Far
Margot Robbie acted as an introduction to Harley Quinn for most mainstream audiences in 2016's "Suicide Squad." However, another actress has had plenty of time to throw her spin on the character too, this portrayal in animated form, appropriate given that Quinn was first introduced in "Batman: The Animated Series."
Kaley Cuoco portrays Quinn in HBO Max's "Harley Quinn," an animated series that quickly gained a reputation for pushing the envelope. For instance, one proposal rejected by the powers-that-be was a very particular scene of Batman in a compromising position with Catwoman. The bigwigs balked at the idea, but plenty of fans rallied behind it, including DC's love-him-or-hate-him black sheep of the family, Zack Snyder (per New York Post).
"Harley Quinn," also produced by Cuoco, is plenty comical, but it's also found fresh ways to portray an evolved Quinn. The former partner to Joker finds herself on her own in the show, questioning her loyalty to a life of crime. Quinn even takes on a new lover and partner in Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), another villain, but a far healthier pairing than Quinn and Joker.
DC projects have undergone several major changes since the corporate merger that left the world with Warner Bros. Discovery. The cancellation of "Batgirl" and the departure of stars like Henry Cavill made fans worry about the potential future of their favorite comic-inspired projects. Luckily, "Harley Quinn" already has a fourth season on the way. Here's everything we know so far.
What is the plot of Harley Quinn Season 4?
There is no official synopsis for "Harley Quinn" Season 4, but the ending to the third season suggests a very different future for Gotham's Harley Quinn. "Harley Quinn" Season 3 ended with Quinn deciding a life of crime is not for her after questioning whether her newfound changes would risk her relationship with Poison Ivy. On top of this, the season also ends with Bruce Wayne (Diedrich Bader) being arrested by the Joker (Alan Tudyk) for tax evasion.
Quinn and Ivy seemingly manage to overcome their differences, even with Quinn now being part of the Bat-Family, led by Batgirl (Briana Cuoco). The relationship between Quinn and Ivy will no doubt face its challenges in the new season, and Quinn may find herself conflicted as she tries shedding the role of villain, all while Batman remains behind bars. Cuoco teased the fourth season renewal of the show with an image of both Quinn and Ivy in August 2022.
"#Harlivy are back for another round, baby!" the show's Instagram account posted in a comment to Cuoco's announcement (per Instagram).
A sizzle reel trailer released by HBO Max teasing upcoming projects also includes a brief glimpse at Quinn dogsledding Harley Quinn-style with a nod to her broken relationship with Joker (via HBO Max).
Who is starring in Harley Quinn Season 4?
Considering the cliffhangers left from "Harley Quinn" Season 3, most of the main cast should be expected to return to the new season. Public statements from the showrunners reference Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's relationship, meaning actresses Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell are ready to go.
A solid sign "Harley Quinn" Season 4 will include the cast fans know and love after three seasons is the fact that most have been confirmed to be returning for a Valentine's Day special set to release on HBO Max in February. The special will focus on Quinn and Ivy's first Valentine's Day together as a couple and drop in on Gotham's other favorite animated couples.
Confirmed for the special are Cuoco and Bell, as well as other actors like Joker voice actor Alan Tudyk and Kite Man's Matt Oberg.
"The special will feature Harley and Ivy celebrating their very first Valentine's Day together, while also revealing how the rest of the ragtag crew spends the gushiest, mushiest, most romantic day of the year," the company's press release reads, suggesting plenty of familiar faces will be returning.
What's the release date for Harley Quinn Season 4?
There is currently no set release date for "Harley Quinn" Season 4, but footage was briefly included in HBO Max's sizzle reel teaser for what's coming to the streaming platform in 2023, so fans can rest assured they'll be getting a new season soon.
Better news for fans is that on top of "Harley Quinn" Season 4, HBO Max is releasing a holiday special, "Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine's Day Special." That special and precursor to "Harley Quinn" Season 4 will drop in February. According to the HBO Max trailer compilation teasing the company's upcoming slate of projects, the new season will arrive sometime in 2023.
Exiting co-showrunner (more on this later) Justin Halpern said keeping Ivy and Quinn together at the end of "Harley Quinn" Season 3 was important to ground the relationship at the center of a typically chaotic show.
"We wanted to make sure that the episode wasn't like, 'Are they going to break up?, so we ended that scene where they fight with Ivy being like, 'I'm going to Costco, text me if you need anything.' Because that's how so many actual married couple and close relationship fights end, where it's like you have the fight but there are also errands that need to be done," Halpern told TV Line.
Harley Quinn Season 4 will have a new showrunner
One major change behind the scenes for "Harley Quinn" in the fourth season will be a new showrunner. Producer Sarah Peters will helm the show, taking the pilot position from former showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker. Peters has been working on the series from the beginning and is being promoted as Halpern and Schumacker will be taking leadership roles on an upcoming "Harley Quinn" spinoff titled "Noonan's" (via Deadline).
The former showrunners celebrated Peters' promotion after the fourth season renewal was announced. The writers assured "Harley Quinn" fans the show would remain in trustworthy hands under Peters' direction. "And we are equally thrilled that this next season will be in great hands with Sarah Peters as our showrunner and Ceci Aranovich overseeing animation production, as they have both greatly influenced the show with their brilliance since the beginning," the producers said in a public statement (per Ad Week).
Peters released her own statement, thanking the exiting showrunners for entrusting her and the rest of the writers' room on "Harley Quinn" to take the reins (via Twitter). She also joked it was time for her to get to work and save HBO's streaming service in another tweet. If only one DC character could actually save a streaming service, Harley Quinn would be a safe bet. Well, maybe not a safe bet, but definitely a fun one.