Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie signs ‘first look’ deal for standalone Harley Quinn movie

SHE was the star of the summer blockbuster Suicide Squad...and now Harley Quinn is set to break out into her very own movie.

Margot Robbie, who plays the troubled former psychiatrist turned super-villain, has signed a deal with Warner Brothers to secure a spin-off focusing on Harley and will also be executive producer on the effort.

While the plot of the film is not yet known, the says that Margot, 26, will be joined by a host of other DC females to counteract the male-heavy genre and to "underline Warner Brothers renewed focus on female-driven storytelling".

The site also states that Margot was the "impetus for the project", adding; "When she got the part for the movie, she dove deep into the comics to learn as much as possible about the character. In the process, she fell for DC's female characters."

In an exclusive chat with Popcorn in July, Margot praised Harley, and said that she "loved playing a badass".

She said: "She is the raddest role out there. She’s creepy, she’s crazy, she’s so badass, and I love playing the badass. It’s so empowering.”

Margot is now said to have brought on the writer to help develop the Harley Quinn project and brought it to Warners, who snapped it up.

Margot's portrayal of Harley Quinn marked the first appearance of the character on the silver screen, despite the numerous versions of her love interest and partner-in-crime, The Joker.

It has not been confirmed whether Jared Leto, who plays the latest incarnation of the Harley's beloved, will appear in the upcoming film, and neither has Harley's Arch Nemesis Batman (played by Ben Affleck).

Harley and the Joker's twisted love story became one of the outstanding parts of this year's Suicide Squad movie - which was slammed by critics as displaying 'appalling sexism and gun worship'.

However, fans have been more warm to the latest edition to the DC Extended Universe, with Harley Quinn's relationship with The Joker taking particular prominence, as well as her budding friendship with fellow Squad member, Deadshot.