Suicide Squad 2: DC sequel directed by James Gunn will be ‘total reboot’, says producer

Warner Bros’s new Suicide Squad film, directed by James Gunn, is set to be a “total reboot”, according to its producer.

Peter Safran told Joblo that the film shouldn’t be referred to as Suicide Squad 2, with the studio currently calling the project The Suicide Squad, although it’s unclear whether this is a working title or whether it will form the final name.

“First of all, we don’t call it Suicide Squad 2 ‘cause it’s a total reboot, so it’s The Suicide Squad and I think people should be extremely excited about it,” Safran said.

There are very few details about what the film will be like, although it’s been announced that Idris Elba will play Deadshot, taking over the role from Will Smith. It’s even unclear whether Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn will make an appearance, since the character already has her own film, next year’s Birds of Prey.

Gunn is still onboard the project, despite the news that Disney has reinstated him as the director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. The studio has agreed to allow production on the Marvel film to be delayed until The Suicide Squad is completed.

“You know what I love about James directing for both Marvel and DC is he has always espoused the view that that which unites comic book and superhero lovers is much greater than that which divides us,” Safran said.

“Because, there’s always been this Marvel/DC rivalry, which he has said, and I agree, is absurd. There’s room for everybody and certainly that which unites us all is far greater than that which divides us, so hopefully they’ll see that you can be both a Marvel and a DC fan and the world won’t spin off its axis.”

Safran said of the film’s screenplay, written by Gunn: “It’s everything you would hope from a James Gunn script and I think that says a lot and that promises a lot and I know that we will deliver a lot.”

The Suicide Squad is set for release on 6 August 2021.