Joker-Harley Quinn film in the works

Jared Leto and Margot Robbie are due to reprise their roles as DC's most popular villains. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, directors and executive producers of the hit NBC drama “This Is Us” and who also wrote and helmed the 2011 film “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, are entering the DC cinematic universe at Warner Bros.

The duo are in final negotiations to pen and helm an untitled movie project centering on Batman villains Joker and Harley Quinn, reports Hollywood Reporter.

Jared Leto and Margot Robbie are due to reprise their roles as the villains, among the most popular characters in the DC pantheon and which they first portrayed in 2016's “Suicide Squad”.

Insiders say that the plan is for this feature to go after the studio makes a sequel to “Suicide Squad”. The latter is on the development fast-track and out to directors. But the Joker and Harley Quinn movie is also moving fast as Warners has to contend with actors' holding agreements, say sources.

The film is described as a “criminal love story,” according to one source, featuring the two murdering maniacs who are cornerstones in the Batman mythos.

Additionally, the project falls within Warners' main line of movies based on their DC properties. That includes the current films released and in production that feature Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, among other characters who collectively form the Justice League.

Warner Bros. is simultaneously beginning to develop a line of DC-related films that will fall outside the established cinematic universe which sees actors and storylines threaded through multiple movies. And, in a move showing how popular the character is, a Joker solo movie is being developed as a potential directing vehicle for “The Hangover” filmmaker Todd Phillips. It is intended to star an actor other than Leto.