Director Cathy Yan is making history as the first Asian woman to direct a big budget superhero movie at a major Hollywood studio.

"This is insane and the biggest honor of my life," Yan posted on Instagram Tuesday after news broke of her historic selection. "Now let’s do this."

Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment chose her to be the director of an untitled girl gang movie starring "Suicide Squad" member Harley Quinn, played by actress Margot Robbie.

CGTN Screenshot of Cathy Yan's post on Facebook.

Wonder woman

A deal has to be completed, but it is expected that Yan will become the second female filmmaker to direct a DC film following Patty Jenkins' "Wonder Woman", and the first female Asian director ever tapped to helm a superhero film.

DC previously tapped Ava DuVernay to direct "New Gods," which is still in development.

With only one small-budget indie film directing credit to her name, Yan was tapped for the job beating out a number of well-established male directors. "Dead Pigs" won the World Cinema Dramatic Award for Ensemble Acting at Sundance in January.

But according to Deadline, despite being a new talent Yan’s presentation for "Birds of Prey" was exceptional, and Robbie held firm to her desire for this film to be directed by a woman.

Girl power

Cathy Yan will direct the female-driven untitled Harley Quinn girl gang movie for Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. /IMDb Photo

Robbie’s Lucky Chap is producing the film with Sue Kroll and her Kroll & Co Entertainment and Bryan Unkeless of Clubhouse Pictures.

The project is based on "Birds of Prey", which in the DC universe teams Quinn with several other female crime fighters. It is not confirmed who else will be acting next to Robbie. But what is clear is that the main characters and most of the creative team for the film are female.

Production could get underway by year’s end or early next year after Robbie completes "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

Before Yan started making films, she worked for The Wall Street Journal as a reporter in Beijing, Hong Kong, and New York. 

Cathy Yan (left) will direct the female-driven untitled Harley Quinn girl gang movie starring Margot Robbie (right) for Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment./ Warner Bros Photo

She wrote and directed several short films before "Dead Pigs", which was filmed in the Shanghai Songjiang section of the Huangpu River.

Yan was born in China in 1986 and moved to the US in 1990. She has visited China every year since.

When CGTN Digital spoke to her in January just before the world premiere of "Dead Pigs" at Sundance, Yan spoke about what makes China a special place for making movies.

"I still believe China is one of the fascinating places in the world and there is a ton of amazing stories there. So in all likelihood, I will back," she said.

Will she be back in China for a production after her superhero debut? To be continued...

(With input from news agencies)

Here's a look at "Dead Pigs":