Chris Messina to Play Villain in BIRDS OF PREY

Chris Messina has joined the cast of "Birds of Prey" as Victor Zsasz, a sadistic serial killer who carves a tally mark onto himself for each of his victims, according to Deadline.

Zsasz will be working with Ewan McGregor's Black Mask.

The character of Zsasz was first introduced in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 in June 1992 as part of Batman: The Last Arkham series. Zsasz's origin story took place in 1996's Batman Chronicles #3. He was the head of his own international company, a rich guy who is still rich from his family's fortune. At 25, his parents die in a boating accident and plummets into a deep depression losing himself in gambling, and ultimately everything to the Penguin. He tries to commit suicide, but after killing a homeless man, he becomes addicted to killing and is known for slitting his victims' throats and leaving them in lifelike poses, while adding a tally mark to himself each time. He's routinely incarcerated in Arkham Asylum.

Messina joins Margot Robbie who is reprising her role as Harley Quinn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead is playing Huntress, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell who will play Black Canary.

Messina recently starred in HBO mini-series "Sharp Objects." Messina is best known for playing Danny Castellano on "The Mindy Project." He will be seen next in "The True Adventures of Wolfboy" opposite John Turturro and Chloe Sevigny.

Cathy Yun is directing the film from Christina Hodson's screenplay. Sue Kroll is producing Birds of Prey through her Kroll & Co. label with Margot Robbie and Bryan Unkeless.

The DC movie opens on Feb. 7, 2020.

Read the original article on Deadline.