Birds of Prey sequel: 5 actresses who could play Poison Ivy

Cathy Yan has said she’d like to see Poison Ivy appear in a Birds of Prey sequel. We suggest five actors who could possibly play the DC villain.

Birds of Prey director, Cathy Yan, recently revealed in an interview that she would love to add Poison Ivy to a potential sequel and explore Ivy’s relationship with fellow DC Comics villain, Harley Quinn. While we still don’t know if there will be a sequel to the Margot Robbie-starrer, we can certainly hope.

If Cathy Yan has her way and Dr. Pamela Isley joins the DC Extended Universe films in a  Birds of Prey sequel, who could play her? Poison Ivy appeared as one of three villains in the much-reviled Batman & Robin, played by Uma Thurman and she also featured across a range of ages on Fox’s Gotham. The show couldn’t quite grasp how to handle the character, hence she appeared as young Selina Kyle’s childhood friend (Clare Foley), before being aged up into Maggie Geha. And then the character evolved again and turned into Peyton List.

The internet seems to have its heart set on Knives Out star Ana de Armas, who has captured people’s imaginations thanks to her enigmatic performance in the film. We have a few more suggestions for actors to take on the mantle of the iconic comic book villain. This list intentionally includes a group of out queer actors to represent Cathy Yan’s vision of the character.

5. Evan Rachel Wood

It’s a bit of a surprise that Wood hasn’t been cast in a big-budget comic book adaptation as of yet. She’s been a household name for eons. Wood is an out bisexual actor who currently leads HBO’s Westworld reboot. She has received acclaim for her role as Dolores, a host who discovers her life is a lie, because of the myriad characteristics that Dolores takes on in the Westworld park.

An outspoken activist, feminist and champion of the LGBTQ community, Wood’s performances are a mixture of tough and alluring. Like Robbie, she might have the clout to give Poison Ivy some dimension beyond being just an attractive female comic book villain.

4. Samira Wiley

Wiley bagged her breakthrough role on Orange Is the New Black and became a fan-favorite almost immediately. The character of Poussey Washington was generous and funny but carried a deep pathos with her. Wiley’s exit from the show was decried by many corners as it meant one less queer character of colour was gracing our screens. She has since gone on to star in The Handmaid’s Tale, receiving nominations and awards for her role as Moira Strand.

Wiley won hearts when she announced her engagement to an Orange Is the New Black writer – it seemed like a meet-cute straight out of a film. Even though we’re not the biggest fans of covering up another actor of colour in green paint, the actor has a subdued charm that would be the perfect foil for Robbie’s larger-than-life Harley Quinn.

3. Shannon Purser

Purser is already a familiar face for comic book fans as she currently portrays the recurring role of Ethel Muggs on The CW’s Riverdale. She burst onto the scene as Barb on Netflix’s Stranger Things, a character who is both loved and hated depending on which team you’re on.

Purser came out as bisexual in 2017 and has lobbied to portray Valiant Comics’ superhero, Faith Herbert. She is the youngest on this list and has the range to be both humorous and emotional. It’s still unusual to see plus-size characters on screen, and casting an actor like Purser would be a welcome shake-up of the landscape of comic book adaptations.

It’s not like attractive and powerful only comes in one size.

2. Laverne Cox

Another Orange Is the New Black alumnus, many credit Cox for giving the transgender community a visible platform in Hollywood. Her role as Sophia Burset on the show was a (still) rare appearance of a trans actor playing a trans character.

She’s not only a trailblazing activist for the many communities she represents, she also has the screen presence that would suit Poison Ivy’s characterization. Ivy is about transformation and her personality combines power and vulnerability, all of which Cox captured on Orange Is the New Black. Cox would ably portray Ivy as a veteran Gotham villain whose world is turned upside down by the redeemed Harley Quinn.

1. Janelle Monáe

There’s very little that Monáe can’t do. The singer, songwriter, actor and producer has captivated people with her music, acting and her outspoken advocacy. Monáe identifies with several queer labels, including pansexuality. She’s portrayed every kind of character, from a rebellious young mathematician in Hidden Figures to an actual android in an episode of Electric Dreams. Her other acting credits include Oscar-winning films Moonlight and Harriet.

Monáe would be able to capture the cold calmness of Poison Ivy in a Birds of Prey sequel, while also being emotional and authentic in capturing Ivy’s innate desire to save the world. She would probably also re-do Ivy’s wardrobe to add a vine-laden tuxedo.

Who would you like to see play Poison Ivy if the character appears in a Birds of Prey sequel? Let us know in the comments below!