When James Gunn was first revealed to helm The Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. and DC, I think each of us were surprised to some degree. I mean, even though actors often go back and forth between Marvel and DC brands, it did raise eyebrows once it was confirmed that the guy who directed two Guardians of the Galaxy pictures will be charting Task Force X’s next mission.
But now that we’ve had ample time to let this knowledge sink in, all we can really do is sit back and enjoy the ride as the production comes together. Granted, it’s going to be a short while before cameras begin rolling, but rest assured that Gunn and company are already hard at work making sure their vision becomes reality.
Letting us know that the ball has begun rolling is Gunn himself by posting a picture showing some sort of sketch he’s been working on. Seen below, the image first debuted via his Instagram story, and there’s certainly room for debate when it comes to what James is drawing. My brain is telling me that Clayface is pretty angry, but there’s been no indication of that character putting in an appearance.
In case you were hoping for a roll call of sorts though, we can absolutely do that right now.
For starters, Margot Robbie will return as Harley Quinn, with Jai Courtney likewise reprising the Captain Boomerang role. Newcomer Idris Elba, meanwhile, won’t be taking over as Deadshot following Will Smith’s departure, and will instead suit up as a different character yet to be revealed. And if that weren’t enough, former WWE Champion John Cena is supposedly on board as Peacemaker.
Due to this mixture of old and new faces, I’m less inclined to think this is a full-on reboot, and would instead liken it to the soft reset that Batman Forever was in 1995. Those who remember that flick will recall how it retained certain actors from the Tim Burton movies and what they accomplished, yet recast Batman himself and made a few other alterations.
The Suicide Squad opens in theaters on August 6th, 2021. As always, it’s recommended that you keep watching this space because we’ll have much, much more to discuss between now and then.