The deadliest, sassiest black ops squad on this side of the extended DC Universe are back. The Suicide Squad, a sequel to the 2016 film, is on its way. Despite a well-received early trailer at San Diego Comic-Con, the first film’s debut garnered mostly lukewarm reviews and lackluster enthusiasm thanks to its messy narrative. But it did well enough at the box office to ensure a sequel would eventually be made. And that sequel is finally coming in 2021.
What Will It Be About?
Warner Bros.
The first Suicide Squad functioned as your classic “team movie.” Mainstays like Harley Quinn, Joker, and Deadshot came together to form a misfit group of high-profile criminals known as “Task Force X” who would take on dangerous missions for the US government. While we don’t know a ton about The Suicide Squad, we do know it’s going to be like a gritty ’70s war movie. Writer and director James Gunn shared that tidbit at DC FanDome. He also shared the first look at footage through an exciting behind the scenes reel. Watch:
As for the matter of the first Suicide Squad, and how this film relates to it, Gunn told Empire: “It does not contradict the first movie, I don’t think. It might in some small ways… I don’t know…” Interesting.
Empire
Warner Bros. shared the following synopsis for the film in February 2021:
Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.
A Red Band trailer for The Suicide Squad landed on March 26. You can watch it below.
Who Is Behind The Camera?
Gavin O’Conner was a front runner at first, but dropped out because the Birds of Prey movie was too similar to what he was working on for Suicide Squad. At one point, David Ayer, who directed the first movie, was going to come back. But Warner Bros. has confirmed that James Gunn will direct the sequel as well as write the script.
Marvel
Who Will Star?
Several members of the core cast are set to return. Margot Robbie will reprise her roles as Harley Quinn. She’ll join Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang, Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flagg, and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller. Unfortunately, Will Smith’s Deadshot is out of the picture.
The Suicide Squad has a ton of new faces. At DC FanDome Gunn confirmed who all the actors will be playing. Are you ready?
- Michael Rooker as Savant
- Flula Borg as Javelin
- David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man
- Daniela Melchoir as Ratcatcher 2
- Idris Elba as Bloodsport
- Mayling Ng as Mongal
- Peter Capaldi as Thinker
- Alice Braga as Solsoria
- Pete Davidson as Blackguard
- Nathan Fillion as TDK
- Sean Gunn as Weasel
- John Cena as Peacemaker
- Steve Agee as King Shark
- Storm Reid as Tyla
- Juan Diego Botto as Luna
- Jennifer Holland as Emilia Harcourt
- Joaquín Cosío as General Mateo Suarez
In an Instagram post, Gunn also confirmed that Sylvester Stallone is also part of the cast. When the newest trailer debuted in March 2021, Gunn finally revealed that Stallone is playing King Shark in the film.
If you’re curious about who each of these wild characters is, this video is a real who’s who.
What Else Do We Know?
All we know is that the film contains “the biggest action scene [Gunn has] ever done all around (Robbie’s character) Harley,” per the director’s conversation with AP News. Here’s the full quote:
“[Robbie] can do anything. Or I thought she could do anything. And then one day she had to sing and I said, ‘OK, well you can do everything but one thing.’ But she’s such a great actress. She embodies the character. She’s able to do the comedy. She’s able to do the drama. And physically, she is a pure athlete and is able to do these stunts in such a graceful, magnificent, beautiful way. And so I wrote the biggest action scene I’ve ever done all around (Robbie’s character) Harley, and it was so fun to create just on every level from working with the stunt guys all the way through to working with her. It’s probably my favorite four minutes of film I’ve ever shot before.”
When Will It Be Here?
The Suicide Squad is currently scheduled for release on August 6, 2021.
Featured Image: Warner Bros.
Originally published on August 27, 2019, with updates on September 13, 2019, July 22, 2020, August 22 2020, and October 26, 2020, March 26, and May 30, 2021.
