Idris Elba in talks to play Deadshot in James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’
Earlier this week it was reported that James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad would be moving on without Will Smith, amicably speaking of course. At the time, sources reported that DC and WB execs were deciding whether they would recast the role or replace Smith’s character “Deadshot” with a different character from the DC universe.
Today we have learned that Gunn fully intends to feature DC’s antihero assassin and none other than Idris Elba is in talks to play him. Roland Deschain who?
Sources close to THR say Elba was Gunn’s “first and only choice” after Smith’s exit, and that talks between the two and the studio went so “swimmingly” a deal now looks imminent. Elba’s announcement also confirms at least one character from David Ayer’s Suicide Squad will exist in Gunn’s universe that will feature mostly an “all-new cast of characters and actors.”
Collider reports Gunn’s script will anchor Elba’s Deadshot “as a surrogate father of sorts” to super-villain Ratcatcher, aka Otis Flannegan, along with the introductions of DC characters Nanaue, aka King Shark, Polka-Dot Man, aka Mister Polka Dot, and Peacemaker, aka Christopher Smith.
Let’s just hope WB and Gunn can pull off another deal to anchor this all-new cast with the only character that matters - Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn.
The Suicide Squad is set for release August 6, 2021.
