Rumor: Warner Bros. to make Black Mask gay in Birds of Prey

The DCEU may be about to make history by introducing the first ever LGBTQ villain in a major superhero film.

It seems that next year will be a big year for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) with the release of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

But based on a new rumor, the release of that film could also make 2020 a major year for the LGBTQ community in terms of on-screen representation, as Warner Bros. may be about to reimagine one of DC’s most famous supervillains, Black Mask, as a gay character – making him the first to appear in a major superhero film.

According to We Got This Covered, there will be sexual tension between him and fellow criminal, Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina).

Black Mask, played by Ewan McGregor, will serve as one of the film’s main antagonists. He is a crime lord in Gotham City, who has taken over in Batman’s absence since the events of Suicide Squad.

This, aside from the small screen portrayal in the FOX TV drama series Gotham, will be the first major live-action depiction of the character – and the first on the big-screen.

Though his sexual orientation was not explicitly stated in the comics, he did have a relationship with a working class model named Circe before he descended into criminal activities. Back then, he was Roman Sionis, born to wealthy parents – who were socialites that befriended the Wayne Family, more specifically Thomas and Martha Wayne.

Roman had undertaken his father’s business (after he murdered his parents) as a high–ranking official. It was a cosmetics company called James Cosmetics. He killed his parents due to neither of them approving of his relationship with Circe. Whether or not the DCEU portrayal will alter that backstory remains to be seen.

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) stars Margot Robbie, Ali Wong, Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez and Ewan McGregor. Cathy Yan will direct from a screenplay by Christina Hodson. The girl power ensemble hits the big screen Feb. 7, 2020.