After beginning principal photography in September of 2019, The Suicide Squad has wrapped filming.
On the 28th of February 2020 James Gunn, writer and director of Slither, Super and Guardians of the Galaxy Vols. 1 & 2, took to social media to announce that his latest film The Suicide Squad had wrapped filming. Now the film will move into post production, looking at a August 6th 2021 release date.
A Long Expected Sequel
David Ayer’s Suicide Squad posed something of a conundrum for Warner Bros. and DC. On the one hand it was a financial success, earning nearly $747 million against a budget of $175 million, guaranteeing a sequel. However, it was also critically reviled and has not held up against DC’s subsequent slate well. As a result Suicide Squad 2 has been in development limbo with a revolving door of writers and directors. The film almost moved forward with Gavin O’Connor attached to direct. O’Connor eventually left the project however due to creative differences with Warner.
Enter James Gunn
James Gunn was announced to be in talks to write and direct Suicide Squad 2 in January of 2019. Warner offered Gunn his pick of DC film projects but he chose Suicide Squad, due to his love of the John Ostrander run on the title in the 80s. Later changed from an outright sequel to a sequel/reboot, now titled The Suicide Squad. Gunn officially unveiled the full cast on social media on 13th of September 2019. With the caption ‘don’t get too attached’.
What We Know So Far
While several of the characters have been revealed, many have been intentionally kept under wraps until marketing gets under way. Some will be reprising their roles from the initial film. Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang. Newcomers include David Dastmalchian as Polka Dot Man, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher, and Steve Agee as King Shark. Idris Elba was originally in talks to replace Will Smith as Deadshot, after Smith decline to reprise the role, but Warner decided to keep the door open for him to return. Elba will be playing a new character, possibly Vigilante, from the Marv Wolfman comics.
What Can We Expect?
Expectations for this film are high. Gunn has said he’s had more creative freedom on this project then any film he’s made before. Also saying it’s been his favorite script to write since the remake of Dawn of the Dead. The film will be rated R, following Joker and Birds of Prey. Fans who only know Gunn for his Guardians of the Galaxy films may be disappointed. While this film will definitely have a fun soundtrack (as is one of Gunn’s directing traits) it won’t be the same 70s soft rock/pop. Curious fans should check out the John Ostrander Suicide Squad Comics. Gunn has also compared the film to Robert Aldrich’s 1967 film The Dirty Dozen.
The Suicide Squad is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 6th 2021. Stay tuned for further updates as marketing kicks off in the coming months.
