In a Deadline exclusive, Warner Brothers has announced a new villain to add to the upcoming Birds of Prey film starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.
According to Deadline, actor Chris Messina has joined the cast as Victor Szasz. Introduced in 1992, Batman villain Victor Zsasz or Mr. Zsasz is a wealthy young man who turns to murder after his parents are killed. His sadistic desire to kill leads to a compulsion to leave tally marks all over his body. Each slash mark is another victim. He has frequently come into conflict with Batman and is usually locked up in Arkham Asylum between escapes.
In the film, Zsasz will be teaming with Ewan McGregor’s crime boss Black Mask. Whether they are working together or Zsasz is working for Black Mask is unclear.
Chris Messina was recently featured in the HBO limited series Sharp Objects opposite Amy Adams. He also starred in the movie Argo as well as the television series The Mindy Project and the HBO series The Newsroom.
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) stars Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Ewan McGregor and Rosie Perez.