14 DAY TRIAL // Even if you’re not a fan of comic books-based movies, this next project is bound to catch your eye, if only for its already very impressive ensemble. After months of speculation, Warner Bros. has confirmed the cast for its next DC Comics film, “Suicide Squad,” – and it’s better than fans have dared to hope it would be.
Jared Leto, Tom Hardy, Will Smith, Margot Robbie, all of whom have been rumored to be up for parts in the film, and Jai Courtney and Cara Delevingne, will all star in “Suicide Squad.”
The film will be out in 2016, in both 3D and 2D, but no start date for the production has been given in the announcement, Deadline reports.
Exciting villain roles
Many actors have gone on the record saying that a villain role is much meatier than the good guy / gal, because it offers the perfect opportunity to explore a side that they would not have access to otherwise. For actors like Leto and Hardy, playing the bad guy will most definitely translate into a real pleasure for fans watching too, because both have a reputation of bringing everything they got to such a role.
Hardy will be playing Rick Flagg, the leader of the group of villains released from prison and tasked with governmental missions. This will be his second brush with playing a comic book baddie, after he played Bane in Chris Nolan’s third and last Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Though as Bane Hardy had most of his face covered by a mask, he brought to the role such complexity and ferocity as never before, earning the warmest praises from fans and critics.
Leto’s job will be considerably harder though, because he will be playing The Joker, a role taken to the level of cinematic perfection by the late Heath Ledger in the second installment of the same Nolan franchise.
Hardy will make a brilliant villain, no doubt, but Leto will have to do his best to both be convincing and avoid comparisons with Ledger’s performance, which is nothing short of brilliant. However, if there’s one guy who can rise up to the challenge, that’s probably Leto: the man doesn’t do too many movies, but when he does settle on one particular project, he makes sure it’s memorable.
Few casting surprises
As noted above, both these names had already been thrown in the conversation a lot in connection to “Suicide Squad.” The same goes for Will Smith, who will be playing Deadshot, and Margot Robbie, who is Harley Quinn, The Joker’s twisted sidekick and lover.
The surprises are Jai Courtney, who will take on Boomerang, and model Cara Delevingne, who will play Enchantress – and not Harley Quinn as previously rumored.
Courtney is definitely going places, based on the kind of roles coming his way: after going mainstream as Bruce Willis’ son in the critically panned “A Good Day to Die Hard” and a villain part in the Tom Cruise vehicle “Jack Reacher,” he was cast in “Terminator: Genisys” and will be seen this December in the Angelina Jolie-directed “Unbroken.” His role in “Divergent” also got him a lot of media attention.
David Ayer will write the script and direct
Perhaps the most surprising part about Warner Bros.’ announcement is about the director: the studio is giving the reins to David Ayer, a director famous for his gritty, violent, and painfully realistic storytelling style. He will also be working on the script.
Ayer’s previous directorial credits include “Street Kings” and “End of Watch,” with Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena. Most recently, he directed the Brad Pitt war drama “Fury,” which is considered one of the strongest contenders this awards season. Ayer penned the critically acclaimed “Training Day” as well.
All in all, “Suicide Squad” is shaping up to be more than just a comic book-based movie, in the sense that it has all the makings of being a solid production as well. Rumor has it that Jesse Eisenberg will be joining the cast too, as Lex Luthor, a character that will appear in next year’s “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” This one is pending confirmation.
