Margot Robbie in for ‘Suicide Squad’ if the movie ever actually happens

Margot Robbie has been cast as villainous rogue Harley Quinn in the planned 2016 “Suicide Squad” film to be directed by David Ayer, making her the second official cast member, after Jesse Eisenberg, who will reprise his role as Lex Luthorfrom “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” also due in 2016. Harley Quinn, a psychiatrist turned masked outlaw, is a compatriot and sometimes girlfriend of the Joker, a role Oscar winner Jared Leto is reportedly in talks to take on.

In what may sound like wishful thinking on the part of DC Comics and Warner Bros., Will Smith, Tom Hardy and Ryan Gosling have also been reportedly approached about the film, which features an Avengers-style team of super-villains brought together to handle special assignments for the government in exchange for having their criminal records cleared. It’s part of a massive slate of films built around the upcoming “Man of Steel” sequel that the studio hopes will counter Marvel’s successful multi-film franchise. Of course, Marvel has been carefully building its empire since 2008’s “Iron Man,” while DC’s ambitious collection of films has just one actual release under its belt — 2013’s “Man of Steel” — with the next one not due for another year and a half.

If all goes to plan, following 2016’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad,” moviegoers can look forward to eight more films by the end of 2020, including films for Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the Flash, plus another go at the Green Lantern. So stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath.