James Gunn officially directing ‘The Suicide Squad’ and it’s a relaunch

James Gunn is directing The Suicide Squad for Warner Bros. He was previously hired to pen the script with an eye to direct. Now, he’s officially in the director’s chair.

The film is being described as a relaunch and not a sequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gunn will be using a mostly new cast of characters and actors.

Gunn was supposed to be shooting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 right about now. Instead, he was fired by Disney last summer after years-old offensive tweets resurfaced.

Many disagreed with Disney’s decision and clearly, WB does not share The Mouse’s concerns.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter

147 comments

Bruce Vader

January 30, 2019

Hopefully there's no dance-off, bro.

Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
January 30, 2019
https://media.giphy.com/med...
1. Bruce Vader
  January 30, 2019
  Oh OK, so it's "dance off" , not "dance-off".
  1. Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
    January 30, 2019
    Right, like Spider Man not Spider-man.
2. rodo
  February 1, 2019
  https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Human target
January 31, 2019
You never know. Could be a hundred times worse.
1. Human target
  January 31, 2019
  Or gene Hackmabs luthor worse.

LOGOS

January 30, 2019

If it's a relaunch, does that mean new casting for everyone but Harley?

Jcool
January 30, 2019
"with mostly an all-new cast of characters and actors."
1. LOGOS
  January 30, 2019
  It seems as though WB is going the Fox X-Men route and throwing continuity out the window.
  1. Jcool
    January 30, 2019
    Its Suicide Squad. You could have a whole new cast for each movie without losing anything.
    1. LOGOS
      January 30, 2019
      True.
    2. AnonymousHero
      January 30, 2019
      I enjoyed most of the cast but wasn't a fan of Killer Croc and was indifferent about Enchantress. Everyone did a great job but Croc could've been much better. Katana was perfect. I still imagine everyone will be changed except Margot's Harl since she was so successful.
    3. Bruce Vader
      January 31, 2019
      I liked the first design of Enchantress (see the picture). It was the final version that wasn't to my liking.
      https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
    4. Myopinion.
      January 31, 2019
      Captain Boomerang was pretty good! At least they actually have an Australian play the character. Instead of some American actor doing a aussie/british/south African hybrid accent!
    5. lowdevil
      January 30, 2019
      Thats my thought exactly.
  2. drisraelluna
    January 30, 2019
    until we get "days of future past" aka flashpoint to try and tie everything up
Cocaine Cowboy
January 30, 2019
That DanielRPK dude says everyone is out except Margot and Viola, so take that for what it's worth.

King Of Noland

January 30, 2019

cast was one of the best part of 1st film and it will be sad to let them go esp Viola Davis.
Bautista and Michael Rooker will surely be in this and maybe Michael Rosenbaum

AnonymousHero
January 30, 2019
Viola Davis was good and I'd replace her with Angela Bassett if she wasn't connected to Black Panther. But Alfre Woodward could fit the bill with zero problem. I could picture Regina King as well if they wanted to go a slightly younger different route. Plenty of great options to flesh out a new cast. We'll be just fine.
1. Bobsonbob Bobsonbob
  January 30, 2019
  Bassett already had her chance with Waller.
  1. AnonymousHero
    January 31, 2019
    I know.
2. King Of Noland
  January 31, 2019
  Octavia Spencer
  1. AnonymousHero
    January 31, 2019
    I did think of her but ultimately don't see her as Waller. Actingwise, no problem. Just don't see Waller in her face.
3. Ginesse Stemmet
  February 1, 2019
  Was'nt she Waller in Green Lantern
  1. AnonymousHero
    February 1, 2019
    Yup.
4. Blacklightning
  February 2, 2019
  Not like it’s gonna happen but C.C.H Pounder. If you watch the new Godzilla trailer she reminds me of Waller in it. Plus she’s the DCAU version
  1. AnonymousHero
    February 3, 2019
    Excellent choice. Good actress. She'd be great.

lowdevil

January 30, 2019

Jesus this site almost crashed. What a news day for DC!
I am SO happy to hear this will be a reboot with a new cast. I am not a fan of Gunn but this is the best idea. Harley and Smith (and everyone else for that matter) did not work.

Oh and btw, all hail Batman:Detective summer2021.

ItzSilentStorm
January 30, 2019
i think most people liked Harley. usually considered one of the few things that DID work. Smith as well for that matter.
1. MLMY100
  January 30, 2019
  And also Jai Courtney of all people
  1. ItzSilentStorm
    January 31, 2019
    oh ya he was good too.
2. Bartholomew Hunt
  January 31, 2019
  Smith was literally the worst thing in Suicide Squad. Sucked all joy out of the movie with his "sad" story and "good heart".
  1. Bruce Vader
    January 31, 2019
    It's called a role. Anyone else would've had to play the same one. You're blaming Will Smith for the story and that's just wrong.
  2. BatfleckRules
    January 31, 2019
    He really was pretty lame
  3. Ginesse Stemmet
    February 1, 2019
    Um''Joker"
NinjaGamer13
January 31, 2019
Most people liked the cast. But anyway, this is apparently not a true reboot - “mostly new cast”

Mr Smith1466

January 30, 2019

He's not "officially directing" anything. He's in talks to direct. TALKS! Let's hope this leads to him directing (suicide squad was trying so desperately hard to rip off Gunn that it only makes sense to let him actually do a proper version) but until something is actually official this article title is complete nonsense.

Adam

January 30, 2019

Every other site (including the Hollywood Reporter where you are getting your info from) is saying James Gunn is "in talks" to direct. That's not the same as "officially directing"...

Jesse Hernandez
January 30, 2019
In talks and coming from Hollywood Reporter pretty much confirms he is directing it
1. Adam
  January 31, 2019
  Sure, I'd be happy with "pretty much confirms". But that's not what the headline says. When it's official it will be official. They're still hashing out details though and who knows what may come of that.

Sense

January 30, 2019

Harley, Amanda, Flag & maybe Deadshot would be my guess for returning cast members

Eduardo Acosta Chucky
January 30, 2019
hope so
NinjaGamer13
January 31, 2019
Harley escaped. She doesn’t need to be back. I hope Waller, Deadshot, and Boomerang are back at least. Flag would be nice since he’s usually such an important member of the group, but they’d have to figure out how to bring him back while leaving Enchantress, ‘cause she was the literal worst.
1. Sense
  January 31, 2019
  Yeah no fucking enchantress
2. myzterius
  January 31, 2019
  Flag was horrible acting wise.
  1. NinjaGamer13
    January 31, 2019
    Yeah I wasn’t too big on him either, but the character is just too important. I did like him a tad better upon watching the movie again in extended form, though. Maybe with a better director he could actually pull it off better...?

Jesse Hernandez

January 30, 2019

New characters ?... so the original characters from SS won’t be there ? Well other than that... I wasn’t a big fan of SS I just thought it was a huge music video

Jcool
January 30, 2019
Mostly new... aka Will Smith, Viola Davis and Margot Robbie would be the only ones possibly returning.
1. drisraelluna
  January 30, 2019
  Robbie won't return. She will have her own "trilogy" as it seems
  1. Kerk Lastnameless
    January 30, 2019
    Not if BOP bombs. Which by the looks of it, it just may.
    1. Bobsonbob Bobsonbob
      January 31, 2019
      BoP won’t bomb. What everyone on this site keeps forgetting is that there is more at stake for directors like Cathy Yan for their film not to fail. Same with Sandberg. Same with Jenkins on the first Wonder Woman. They have more skin in the game then Hollywood big shots and thus they care more.
    2. Bruce Vader
      January 31, 2019
      OK, now I understand why this Jerk Lastnameless is on my block list. He's one of the "oracles" that predicts movies bombing, like Aquaman.
    3. King Of Noland
      January 31, 2019
      BOP's budget is said to be about 50m and it's going to recover it within it's first weekend domestically and will be 150m worldwide after 1st week(if it has day to day release internationally).
      THERE IS 0% CHANCE THAT IT WILL BOMB.
      Screenshot it and i will own it if i'm wrong.
    4. Kerk Lastnameless
      January 31, 2019
      Well that mould certainly explain why it looks cheap. But there are other ways to bomb, just look at SS.
    5. King Of Noland
      January 31, 2019
      please explain how Suicide Squad bombed?
    6. Kerk Lastnameless
      January 31, 2019
      Critically. It was a PR embarrassment for WB.
    7. King Of Noland
      January 31, 2019
      Robbie broke out big from that movie so it was not that big of embarrassment and it was not as big of a disaster as BvS
    8. Kerk Lastnameless
      January 31, 2019
      Sure. But it was still an embarrassment. Testament to that is the fact that instead of making a sequel, they are now rebooting. And that is also fascinating -- I don't know of a movie that got rebooted only within 5 years of its release. That's gotta be the record.
    9. King Of Noland
      January 31, 2019
      i'll wait for more information to come out before saying it's a reboot

ZaQueerdo

January 30, 2019

If they’re getting a new cast, I hope Vixen pops up.

OptimistPrime99

January 30, 2019

Cool! Subtract Harley Quinn, add Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke, bring back Will Smith and Viola Davis, and we're good!👍 https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Kerk Lastnameless
January 30, 2019
I understand that there is no chance of Harley being on the team now, but I always liked her there. It's a perfect place for her, in my opinion.
Bruce Vader
January 31, 2019
Well, Deathstroke and Deadshot seem pretty redundant at first, but I would sure like to see them race for an objective.

Thanasis

January 30, 2019

Good news for the film. Still dislike this dude.

tylernorton
January 30, 2019
If DC is smart they will continue to pick up Marvel talent like patty jenkins and james gunn who will give them their biggest hits. I think they should be going after edgar wright next.

Flower & Monster & Golden Calf

January 30, 2019

Jai Courtney & Leto get no breaks.

Thanasis
January 30, 2019
Well, Leto was cringe inducing shit bomb. So I'm in no way shape or form sad to see him gone.
1. NinjaGamer13
  January 31, 2019
  Wow this is the most over the top comment I’ve seen in some time
Bruce Vader
January 31, 2019
You didn't like Jai Courtney as Boomer?
1. Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
  January 31, 2019
  I like but he gets no breaks.
  1. Bruce Vader
    January 31, 2019
    What does it mean? I'm not making fun, I just don't understand what those words mean. Is it equivalent to "he's out no matter what"?
    1. Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
      January 31, 2019
      Yes, he's gone.

AquamanIsCool

January 30, 2019

What about The flash and GLC?

Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
January 30, 2019
hmmm, good question, I'm thinking 2022,2023.

mr nobody

January 30, 2019

HA!

Kerk Lastnameless

January 30, 2019

Oh chet!

IamTheOneWhoKnocks

January 30, 2019

That word “relaunch” brings a smile to my face :). James is the perfect director to make this movie work. One man’s loss (Disney) is another man’s treasure (WB).

tylernorton
January 30, 2019
I hope it is super succesful. Firing james gunn was disney's biggest mistake and Dc's gain.
1. IamTheOneWhoKnocks
  January 31, 2019
  Agreed!

Kerk Lastnameless

January 30, 2019

Ah, and this gives more credence to Grace's claim that the DCEU is being relaunched by WW. This would also explain why they were holding off on Batman.

IamTheOneWhoKnocks
January 30, 2019
True!
Seb
January 30, 2019
Why would you take her seriously? Seems to me she has no clue what she's talking about, and her taste in movies is extremely bad.
1. Kerk Lastnameless
  January 30, 2019
  Taste and connections are different things. She has proven to be very on point when analyzing business and bringing in scoops. The fact that she defended BvS is of no interest to me.
  1. Seb
    January 30, 2019
    Not about that... I seem to remember (though to be fair, it's been years since I watched her content) that she went on bs rumors that were completely wrong, more often than not and just in general was very gullible with the information she chose to report.
    1. Kerk Lastnameless
      January 31, 2019
      When you dig up something specific, let me know. I've been following her closely for years and don't remember anything like that.
Nahuel Benvenuto
January 31, 2019
she is an idiot
1. Kerk Lastnameless
  January 31, 2019
  You're a lunatic.
Jua-nalf
January 31, 2019
Never have I seen anyone (that is a film critic) as negative as her, she shits on anything that has a DC logo. I hope she doesn't get too much viewers with severe depression.
1. Kerk Lastnameless
  January 31, 2019
  False, she loved WW and Aquaman and defended BvS.

notyou_notme

January 30, 2019

I'm just a simple person,
just give me a Big, Hungry, Intimidate Killer Croc exactly like Arkham Asylum and I'm totally fine.
Give him a body of Hulk 2008, not The Lizard from spiderman.

Spenddollarz
January 30, 2019
hell no killer croc from the animated batman with the trench coat and hat was cooler
1. Half life 3 confirmed
  January 31, 2019
  Why not combine both? Something like Mr. X Tyrant. https://deadentertainment.c...
  1. Spenddollarz
    February 1, 2019
    I was thinking that o love Re2 remake btw been playing it nonstop going for s rank tonight
    1. Half life 3 confirmed
      February 1, 2019
      It's a great game! I got S rank for standard mode :p. I'm working on hardcore mode now. They're releasing free dlc soon too!
    2. Spenddollarz
      February 2, 2019
      I got s rank in standard Claire A an hour ago , 2 hour 40 min I unlocked infinite blade and Samurai edge pistol will go for the infinite LE sub machine gun next in hardcore.

AnonymousHero

January 30, 2019

Wow, it really is going to be a relaunch! Score!

We're still early on in the DC process. As for everyone that loved Suicide Squad, there seems to be two people extra for every one of them that did not. If Joker is included, we can change him now completely, but he doesn't have to be in the story at all. I need them to get Killer Croc right. If the film is anything like Assualt on Arkham, without Batman, I'm down. The main thing here is the chance to do things right... that is exciting.

I just get the feeling, he's really going to put his back into this one and make Marvel pay for letting him go. Don't know if he has a chip on his shoulder or not of course, but I can see him doing very well with this film and really please fans by getting everything right. Should be fun and edgy.

IamTheOneWhoKnocks
January 31, 2019
Yeap!...SS2 will be personal for him, and that would be a win for DC and us fans of course :))
Bartholomew Hunt
January 31, 2019
He's a great talent, has good sense of humor. And he knows how to construct a story. It will be awesome I'm sure.

Seb

January 30, 2019

I loved GOTG1 the first time I watched it (though it is a film that becomes less good the more you watch it), but honestly, he's had a pretty rocky past (in terms of filmmaking... couldn't care less about those irrelevant tweets) and I'm not so sure this is a guaranteed hit, let alone a probable one.

Bartholomew Hunt
January 31, 2019
GOTG1 is one of my favorite CBM. GOTG2 is one of my least favorite. I hate it, quite frankly. So we'll see.

Spenddollarz

January 30, 2019

relaunch ??? If they keep the cast the same then cool add some other cool villains like bronze tiger or Bane(Bautista) then cool. Just don't give us the anti heroes become family trope they did GOTG and SS1 just make them ruthless , badass and Rated R like ss1 should have been

NinjaGamer13
January 31, 2019
You’ve got some good ideas. I’d love Joe’s Deathstroke to show up as an obstacle for the squad...
1. Spenddollarz
  February 1, 2019
  same bro

MBII

January 30, 2019

What the hell do they mean by relaunch? What is WB doing? They've lost their damn kinds since Zack Snyder left.

NinjaGamer13

January 31, 2019

“Mostly new cast” - this is NOT a reboot

GilbertM1701

January 31, 2019

So basically, Amanda Waller will be the same, but everyone else is up for grabs. Sounds good to me.

RameshV

January 31, 2019

Gotg2 sucked big time though.

Bartholomew Hunt
January 31, 2019
Agree. A monumental let down.

mr nobody

January 31, 2019

Relaunch, but not a sequel and not a reboot? WTF does that even mean? Is it a second try on the same movie? They just came up with a new concept lol

Flower & Monster & Golden Calf
January 31, 2019
Ughh, I hope it's not like x-men dark Phoenix, remake of x-men 3.
1. mr nobody
  January 31, 2019
  That would just be the worst. It’s like they wanna let go but still holding on to some things. And that’s just gonna be weird af

mr nobody

January 31, 2019

Hope this won't be the same bs about them becoming a family like in SS1 and GotG1. Just have a bunch of savages who dislike each other to achieve a common goal

Bartholomew Hunt
January 31, 2019
Really hated that the music video tried making them a "family" of "misunderstood" people with "hearts of gold" . It was super lame.
1. mr nobody
  January 31, 2019
  Oh god. I don’t know what you’re taking about but sounds horrible
2. Kerk Lastnameless
  January 31, 2019
  Heathens?

Winterventions

January 31, 2019

"THIS IS JAMES GUNN. HE'S GOT MY BACK.

I'D ADVISE NOT CHECKING HIS TWITTER HISTORY, THOUGH. HIS TWEETS TRAP THE SOULS OF ITS ADOLESCENT VICTIMS IN ITS TEXT."

Kane

January 31, 2019

Amazing how much support this nonce gets

Like his buddy Bryan Singer used to get up until very recently

https://www.theatlantic.com...

Kalel.sonofel

January 31, 2019

Man so many wrong within this news. He is in NEGOTIATION to direct it an not officially directing. Second rebbot no. New characters (YES - there are more than Croc, Harley, Boomerang, Deadshot) MEANS new actors! If he is using some of the old character it means YES he is using the old actors. Man it's not that difficult. I hope that Amanda is still there.

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James Gunn officially directing ‘The Suicide Squad’ and it’s a relaunch

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