I have a very limited knowledge of the DC Universe. I’ve never ready any DC comics. Most of my DC information comes from Batman: The Animated Series, all the Batman movies and all the Superman movies. Even with my limited familiarity, though, I was intrigued by the announcement of a Suicide Squad movie. And, after yesterday’s announcement of the cast, I’m even more intrigued.
As far as I know, the Suicide Squad is a team of former villains attempting to make good by going on dangerous missions. I assume that the team works for some branch of the government in exchange for reduced jail time. For their Suicide Squad movie, DC and Warner Bros. have line up an impressive cast of A-list talent.
Will Smith will play Deadshot.
Jared Leto with play the Joker.
Margot Robbie will play Harley Quinn.
Tom Hardy will play Rick Flagg.
Jai Courtney will play Boomerang.
Cara Delevinge will play Enchantress.
Of those characters, I only know who the Joker and Harley Quinn are. Of the actors, I have heard of all them.
I’m most intrigued by the casting of Will Smith and Jared Leto. Will Smith was one of the world’s biggest movie stars at some point and already tried his hand at the superhero genre in the underrated Hancock. I’m surprised to see him take a role in an ensemble film as opposed to finding a project that would feature him as the star.
Jared Leto is an Academy Award winning actor and I think he definitely has the talent to make the Joker his own. Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker was so great that any future version will always be compared to his. Even though I’ll always think of him as Jordan Catalano from My So-Called Life, Leto has the potential to step out from Ledger’s long shadow.
The Suicide Squad sounds a lot like Marvel’s Thunderbolts, another team of reformed super villains. I had always hoped that Marvel would produce a Thunderbolts movie, but it looks like DC beat them to the punch. In spite of that small disappointment, I am actually looking forward to Suicide Squad. Perhaps not knowing too much about the hero or the team of heroes is the best way for me to enjoy a DC movie.
I’ve never made any jokes about how ridiculous the Suicide Squad is; I can’t say the same thing about Aquaman.
What are your thoughts on the cast for Suicide Squad?
I recognize Will Smith and Tom Hardy's names; other than that, I don't know who these folks are. I only know Harley Quinn and the Joker as characters, too. (Minimal knowledge of Deadshot via some Batman stuff.) So I am not really intrigued by the concept or the cast. Still, that's where I was prior to Guardians of the Galaxy. I heard enough positive buzz I went to see it and loved it, so I'm sure I'll do the same for Suicide Squad (hate that name) too.