DC and Warner Bros. have confirmed that controversial director James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2”) is set to be the writer for the next “Suicide Squad” film. Gunn, who was most known for his role as director of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, was fired during the summer after some off-color tweets from 2009-2010 resurfaced.
It seems like they are willing to work with the edgy director despite his views, and it definitely shows how Warner Bros. and Disney view their respective brands and values.
Warner Bros. released a statement saying that Gunn will bring a “completely fresh take to the franchise.” It is notable that the statement, which was made on DC Daily (a DC-centered video podcast), did not mention him directing the film, though initial reports do say it is likely he will do so.
Gunn takes over writing duties from Gavin O’Connor (“The Accountant”), who left the sequel due to frustrations that his script was too similar to “Birds of Prey,” which was fast-tracked by Warner Bros. and is expected to star Margot Robbie, who will reprise her role of Harley Quinn from “Suicide Squad.”
This news could also have a huge impact on the potential casting decision that will be made in the future. Dave Bautista, famous for playing Drax the destroyer in both “Guardians of the Galaxy” films and “The Avengers: Infinity War,” has been a huge advocate against Gunn’s firing and is seemingly interested in joining the project, tweeting “Where do I sign up?” after the news broke of Gunn’s involvement. Jared Leto, who played the role of the Joker in the first “Suicide Squad,” is unlikely to reprise his role in the sequel, most likely due to both the negative critical reception his performance in the film garnered and his recasting. Joaquin Phoenix (“Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot”) is set to portray the character in Todd Phillips’ (“War Dogs”) upcoming standalone “Joker” film.
Although neither Bautista or Leto’s future roles in the upcoming film are official, it will be something to look forward to in the coming months. Overall, the move by Warner Bros. to hire Gunn is a bold one and could end up either elevating the franchise to a new level or failing to meet expectations. One thing is for certain: the second “Suicide Squad” movie should be drastically different than its predecessor on all accounts. For DC’s sake, the hope is that Gunn’s new approach will make up for its original disappointment.
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