While DC continues developing its live-action movies in the DCEU and in Matt Reeves' The Batman universe, the company continues excelling with animation as well. Largely, this comes courtesy of Kaley Cuoco's animated Harley Quinn series, fully utilizing an adult nature for the iconic Batman antagonist. Having initially premiered on DC Universe before its move to HBO Max, Harley Quinn is something of a fan-favorite.
Thus far, the show consists of 26 episodes over two seasons, with a third set of episodes already in development for an HBO Max release. Also starring iconic sci-fi actors in voiceover roles such as Star Wars' Alan Tudyk and Spider-Man: No Way Home's J.B. Smoove, this adult series holds nothing back in bringing the action and the comedy of Batman's wild world.
Season 3 should follow on from the explosive wedding in the prior season's finale, and that same level of hilarity is coming back in bunches as was teased in the trailer that premiered at DC FanDome 2021.
Even more recently, fans learned that this won't be the only new animated adventure coming, as Harley Quinn now officially has its own spin-off series.
D Announces Animated Harley Quinn Spin-Off
SlashFilm shared news from SXSW that HBO Max is developing a spin-off from Kaley Cuoco's animated Harley Quinn series. That show is prepping for its third season, which will debut this year, meaning the spin-off will likely play off of events from those new episodes.
The spin-off will go under the title Noonan's, following the obscure Batman villain Kite Man as he buys Noonan's Bar. This is known as a hangout spot for various Gotham villains, named after hitman Sean Noonan.
Harley Quinn co-creator Patrick Schumacker revealed that Kite Man attempts to run this bar as a solo effort, although it doesn't end up being an easy venture. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are set to be in the spin-off's first episode before featuring other classic Batman villains like Lex Luthor and Bane:
"He tries to run the bar by himself but it doesn’t turn out so easy. We have Harley and Ivy appear in the first episode, but after that, we have with different goons and villains appearing every episode like Lex Luthor and Bane. It will be kind of like ‘Cheers’ for supervillains.”
Cheers Meets DC in Harley Quinn's World
Harley Quinn has never kept any of its crazy plot or character ideas off the table, and the case seems to be the same with this new spin-off.
Kite Man is one of Batman's most obscure villains, using kite-shaped weapons to induce his reign of terror in the comics, even though he's considered more of a joke-style villain. Matt Oberg played the role in 17 of Harley Quinn's 26 episodes thus far, and after the Joker terrorized Gotham in Season 1, Kite Man may have the chance to really find himself in this new series – especially since he and Poison Ivy have called it quits.
Taking inspiration from the classic TV sitcom Cheers should allow the leading character to fully explore his dopey nature as he interacts with classic Caped Crusader antagonists at Noonan's Bar. With James Adomian and The Mandalorian's Giancarlo Esposito likely returning as Bane and Lex Luthor, respectively, there should be plenty of continuity between this show and Harley Quinn as well.
Without too many specific plot details, fans will have to wait for more concrete information on casting and production ahead of Noonan's release. Even so, with what's already known, there should be no shortage of laughs or insanity as this world continues to expand with this series and Season 3 of Harley Quinn.
