Ewan Mcgregor To Play Batman Villain Black Mask In ‘Birds Of Prey’
Ewan McGregormay play the Big Bad in the upcoming female-led comic book movie,Birds of Prey. TheChristopher Robinactor is in talks to join theBirds of Preycast as the villainBlack Mask, a Gotham mob moss and frequent Batman baddie who will likely turn his attention to Harley Quinn and the members of the titular Birds of Prey in the upcoming film helmed byCathy Yan.The Wrapreports that McGregor is in talks to play Black Mask, a ruthless mob moss with a penchant for torture and wearing creepy skull-like masks.
The film will reunite McGregor with hisFargoco-starMary Elizabeth Winstead, who is on board to play Huntress, a vigilante character who in several iterations has ties to the mob. OtherBirds of Preycast members includeMargot Robbie, whose Harley Quinn isn’t a traditional member of the Birds of Prey but who has been the longest attached to the project,Jurnee Smollett-Bellas the superheroine Black Canary, andRosie Perezas Detective Renee Montoya.
McGregor had been rumored to be on the short list for Black Masksince September, when it was reported that both he andDistrict 9star Sharlto Copley were up for the role. The pair seemed evenly matched — McGregor is a more talented actor, but Copley has a talent for playing psychotic killers. But it seems like McGregor, who has stepped outside his leading-man niche and into more sinister roles in recent years, won the role of the Gotham mob boss.
Created byDoug MoenchandTom Mandrakein 1985, The Black Mask is a brutal crime boss who murders his parents in order to take over the family corporation, only to lose all his wealth to his own ineptitude. Seeking revenge against Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises for his fallen empire, he sheds his real name Roman Sionis to don the identity of the Black Mask, wearing a skull-like mask that (sometimes) gives him the powers of hypnosis.
Yan directs a script byChristina Hodson, who is also penning the script forBatgirl.Birds of Preyis set to hit theaters onFebruary 7, 2020.
