Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer, appeared to please DC Comics and films fans but divided critics upon its release in 2016. Four years on, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn has taken the helm for a new standalone film of (nearly) the same name: The Suicide Squad.
Harley Quinn and her mischievous bunch of supervillains are making a comeback but this time with an altered ensemble. Jared Leto’s The Joker is noticeably absent, as is – seemingly – Cara Delevingne as Enchantress. Will Smith isn’t reprising his role Deadshot due to scheduling conflicts, but many of the comic book series’ original misfits remain including Rick Flag and Captain Boomerang.
So will Gunn’s Task Force X, the terrorising team of incarcerated villains who undertake high-risk secret missions in exchange for convict benefits, top the 2016 film? Only time will tell. In the meantime, here’s everything we know about the film so far…
Recent Updates:
- James Gunn reveals actor’s roles in upcoming film
- A behind-the-scenes video that includes some of the first footage from The Suicide Squad has been revealed
- A teaser trailer for The Suicide Squad has been unveiled as part of the DC FanDome virtual event
- Producer Charles Roven gives update about “wonderful” film
- James Gunn says it’s “likely” we’ll see some footage this year
- James Gunn reveals release date won’t be pushed back due to coronavirus
- James Gunn shares wrap photo as The Suicide Squad finishes filming
- Margot Robbie says the film is going to be “incredible”
- The release date of the film has been confirmed as August 6, 2021
When is The Suicide Squad out in cinemas?
Warner Bros. confirmed that the movie will be released on August 6, 2021.
Gunn revealed in April 2020 that the release date won’t be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Right now there’s no reason for #TheSuicideSquad release date to move,” he tweeted. “We are on or ahead of schedule. We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting & set up editing from our homes (due to a post production team & studio with foresight) before quarantine.”
Right now there’s no reason for #TheSuicideSquad release date to move. We are on or ahead of schedule. We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting & set up editing from our homes (due to a post production team & studio with foresight) before quarantine. https://t.co/URRFXX58r3
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 12, 2020
The director also suggested it’s “likely” fans would see some footage from the film by the end of the year, in a recent Instagram Q&A.
While the San Diego Comic-Con has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, where new footage from comic book movies usually premieres, this suggests clips from The Suicide Squad could debut online.
Gunn tweeted following the news of the cancellation, promising fans he’d “make it up” to them in other ways.
It's the right thing to do, but I'm still sad to hear about #SDCC being cancelled this year. I'll miss all of you. We as creators, studios, and publishers will have to find ways to make it up to you the fans in other ways. ❤️
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 17, 2020
Who is in The Suicide Squad cast?
Most of the main cast has been announced, including: Margot Robbie as crazed criminal and former psychiatrist Harley Quinn; Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, the government official who manages the squad; Joel Kinnaman also returns as the team’s leader, Rick Flag.
Jai Courtney as the thief Captain Boomerang; David Dastmalchian as Polka Dot Man, John Cena as The Peacemaker, and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2. Additionally, Steve Agee is the voice of King Shark, the supervillain making his debut.
Don’t get too attached. #TheSuicideSquad pic.twitter.com/uITPhrDzz2
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 13, 2019
At the DC FanDome event yesterday (August 22), Gunn also revealed who the rest of the casting. Michael Rooker will play Savant and Flula Borg will appear as Javelin. Idris Elba will play Bloodsport – a role which James Gunn said nobody had correctly predicted on the Internet prior to the FanDome event.
Mayling Ng will play Mongal while Peter Capaldi will take on the role of The Thinker. Alice Braga will play Solsoria, Pete Davidson the Blackguard, Nathan Fillion TDK and Sean Gunn will play Weasel. You can see the video announcement below.
#TheSuicideSquad Roll Call! (thanks to @grandson for the tune!) pic.twitter.com/Dea21xZWUl
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
#TheSuicideSquad Who's Who, Pt 1:@idriselba is #Bloodsport#MargotRobbie is #HarleyQuinn@seangunn is #Weasel#PeteDavidson is #Blackguard pic.twitter.com/Pea9PYoxql
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
#TheSuicideSquad Who's Who, Pt 2:@MelchiorDaniela is #Ratcatcher2#JoelKinnaman is #RickFlag @NathanFillion is #TDK#JaiCourtney is #CaptainBoomerang pic.twitter.com/FESRsYIqCh
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
#TheSuicideSquad Who's Who, Pt 3:@steveagee is the on-set #KingShark AND #JohnEconomos @MissNgInAction is #Mongal@Dastmalchian is #PolkaDotMan #AliceBraga is #SolSoria pic.twitter.com/hUFMRFU8RW
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
#TheSuicideSquad Who's Who, Pt 4:@JohnCena is #Peacemaker @JuanDiegoBotto is #PresidenteGeneralSilvioLuna #PeterCapaldi is #TheThinker pic.twitter.com/ZCvziNdbZi
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
The villains I used come from all over DC & from different time periods. However the movie is deeply indebted to John Ostrander’s #SuicideSquad run, so I’d start with the 1st collection, Trial by Fire. https://t.co/ZJdSLUnAkK
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
Amanda Waller (played by @violadavis), John Economos (played by @steveagee) & Flo Crawley (played by Tinashe Kajese – not revealed in today’s materials – well until now) – are all from those books.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
What is the plot of The Suicide Squad?
Dear reader, we know next to nothing. But we can safely assume that it will follow the basic outline of all Suicide Squad stories. Amanda Waller will dispatch her team on an extremely dangerous mission from which many will not emerge unscathed (they are expendables, after all).
A theory, as reprinted by Digital Spy, is that Gunn’s enormous cast list can only mean one thing: lots of deaths. Since the new additions are obscure even within the realm of the comics, it seems unlikely that many of them will remain by the end of the film.
In an Instagram Q&A, Gunn has shared some behind-the-scenes details about the costumes in the upcoming film. Whilst previously, many in the Marvel and DC universe relied on CGI costumes, Gunn has revealed that this won’t be the case in The Suicide Squad. When asked by a fan if they’ll be using real or CGI costumes, Gunn replied: “All practical.”
Birds of Prey Interview – "The Suicide Squad"
Margot Robbie says James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is going to be "incredible" and gives us a hint at what to expect.
Posted by Rotten Tomatoes on Saturday, February 8, 2020
In a new interview with Rotten Tomatoes (above), Margot Robbie has said that she thinks the film is going to be “incredible”.
“It’s just interesting to see what a different filmmaker makes of Gotham and these characters, and Harley really. I’m fascinated by what James [Gunn] finds interesting about her compared to what Cathy [Yan, Birds Of Prey director] finds interesting, compared to what David [Ayer, 2016’s Suicide Squad writer and a director] found interesting about her.”
Producer Charles Roven has also given an update about what fans can expect from Gunn’s upcoming movie. Speaking to Total Film, Roven said he “couldn’t be more thrilled to working with [Gunn] on Suicide Squad.” He added: “Everything that I’ve seen so far has just been wonderful. And, you know, we’ve got tremendously talented actors in every role, some who you know and some who will surprise you in the roles that they are playing.
“The movie’s going to have everything in it. It’s going to be tremendously fun and great action, [have] wonderful effects, some great characters, and also, I think it’ll put a lump in your throat and maybe a tear in your eye along the way, too. It’s got everything, really. I’m really excited about it.”
At the DC FanDome event on August 22, some further clues about the plot were unveiled in this collection of teaser clips:
A little behind-the-scenes of #TheSuicideSquad. @SuicideSquadWB Thanks for joining us today at #DCFanDome – catch the encores if you missed it! pic.twitter.com/kP9osWIwHM
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 22, 2020
Has filming started on The Suicide Squad?
Yes, it started on September 20, 2019, at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Comicbook.com reported that filming in Atlanta was expected to last three months before transitioning to Panama for a month in 2020.
Has filming finished on The Suicide Squad?
Yes, it finished on February 28, 2020. James Gunn shared a wrap photo with the cast and crew.
“And that’s a wrap on #TheSuicideSquad,” Gunn’s caption read. “My father died two weeks before we started filming and my dog died two weeks before the end. It was a hard, hard time in my life and yet the most fulfilling time I’ve ever had making a movie. The professionalism, talent, compassion and kindness of this cast and crew inspired me every day. Thanks to everyone involved in this film, in every stage of development, in every department – I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for you all. You are why I make movies.”
Is there a trailer yet?
A teaser trailer was unveiled as part of the DC FanDome virtual event on August 22, 2020. The “Roll Call” trailer reveals the film’s roster of villains, including Idris Elba as Bloodsport, John Cena as Peacemaker, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Nathan Fillion as TDK, Pete Davidson as Blackguard and more.
Have we seen any footage from The Suicide Squad yet?
Yes, director James Gunn debuted a behind-the-scenes video that includes some of the first footage at DC’s FanDome virtual event on August 22, 2020.
Where will The Suicide Squad be set?
With the scarce plot details, it’s also not known if the film will be set again in the fictional Midway City, which in the DC universe is Chicago to Gotham’s New York.
Is The Suicide Squad a sequel to Suicide Squad?
No. James Gunn has confirmed it’s a reboot with a new name.
Producer Peter Safran expanded on this, telling The List last year: “First of all, we don’t call it Suicide Squad 2 because it’s a total reboot, so it’s The Suicide Squad and I think people should be extremely excited about it.
“It’s everything you would hope from a James Gunn script and I think that says a lot and that promises a lot and I know that we will deliver a lot.”
Gunn is also set to take charge of the upcoming Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 after he was reinstated to the crew by Marvel back in March 2019. The filmmaker was previously let go in July 2018 over a series of offensive old tweets.