So let’s get this straight. Not only will James Gunn be directing both Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3—yes, he’s back on for that gig, if you haven’t heard—and DC’s second Suicide Squad picture, but he’s actually rebooting the latter franchise altogether and rebuilding it from scratch. How many Infinity Stones are you secretly hoarding that you wield so much power, James?
Speaking with JoBlo over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Peter Safran (who produced DC films Aquaman and the forthcoming Shazam!) made mention that Gunn’s Suicide Squad should not be referred to as a sequel to David Ayer’s 2016 entry, as “it’s a total reboot.” Safran went so far as to assert that the title of the new project is The Suicide Squad (adding, “We don’t call it Suicide Squad 2“).
While we already expected Gunn’s take to feature a good deal of differences from Ayer’s—notably the absence of star Will Smith as Deadshot and the inclusion of Idris Elba in his stead—this news props a ribbon on the package. Though Gunn’s film will still see the return of Margot Robbie and Jared Leto as Harley Quinn and the Joker, what we’re getting will, more than likely, be totally different from what we saw just three years ago.
And frankly, that makes sense. The DC Universe on the whole has changed quite a bit in these past few years. The tremendous hit that was 2017’s Wonder Woman gave way to an increasingly brighter tone among the franchise; Aquaman upped the ante with the goofball factor, and early word is that Shazam! carries this vibe even further. Given that Gunn has delivered some of the silliest material in the MCU by way of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the injection of his sensibilities in lieu of David Ayer’s grittier appeal seems in line with the future DC is building for its properties.
Images: DC
