Despite Will Smith stepping down from The Suicide Squad (the actual title to the follow-up film) due to scheduling conflicts, his character Deadshot doesn’t seem to be done with DC Comics films quite yet. In fact, he’ll be getting new life in the sequel courtesy of Idris Elba.
A recent report from Variety confirms that Elba – who has been in the running for everything from Star Wars to James Bond lately – is in talks to take over the role of the iconic assassin from Will Smith. Apparently he met up with the also recently-hired writer and director James Gunn last week to go over plans for The Suicide Squad.
Considering that the news of Smith’s departure is very fresh in fans’ minds, it’s surprising how quickly the studio seems to have settled on a replacement. Especially because just last week, Variety reporter Justin Kroll was explaining that Warner Bros. still wasn’t sure whether they would be recasting the role of Deadshot or rewriting it to be a different character altogether.
Despite mixed reviews, the first Suicide Squad made well over $700M, in large part due to its star-studded leads: Will Smith and Margot Robbie. It’s still unclear whether Robbie will be reclaiming her title as the Cupid of Crime, but her title role in Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) suggests she’s far from done with the world of DC films. Nevertheless, the sequel requires a costar of Smith’s caliber if it wants to near the original’s numbers, and Idris Elba is one of the few choices that makes sense.
Deadshot and Harley will probably be the only familiar faces – or in Deadshot’s case familiar name – to return, as the new film plans to focus on different members of Belle Reve. But if Amanda Waller doesn’t return, who will be manning the squad? Viola Davis’ involvement or lack thereof is not yet confirmed, but either way, the rest of the cast is sure to fill up quickly. After all, the movie is set to premiere on August 6th, 2021.
Do you think Idris Elba is a good choice for Deadshot, or should they have written in a new character? Are you excited for James Gunn’s version of The Suicide Squad? Let us know in the comments below and check back with That Hashtag Show for all the latest news about your favorite films.
