Five years ago, SUICIDE SQUAD introduced Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn as one of several criminals coerced into a deadly mission by a powerful government official (Viola Davis) and led by a gruff soldier (Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag), who wasn’t exactly invested in their personal safety. Now comes THE SUICIDE SQUAD, which features a handful of the same characters (including Robbie, Kinnaman, and Davis) and an entirely new scenario.
This time the cannon-fodder characters are sent to a mysterious South American island nation to quell a hostile government and shut down an experiment that could lead to some very, very bad things.
Under the direction of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY filmmaker James Gunn, THE SUICIDE SQUAD introduces John Cena’s Peacemaker, Idris Elba’s Bloodsport, and relative newcomer Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2. (Also, Sylvester Stallone voices a giant murderous shark god named Nanaue.) The filmmaker also leans into an entirely new tone, with plenty of jokes, elaborately staged action sequences, and a liberal helping of good, old-fashioned blood and guts. Refashioned as a smart-alecky man-on-a-mission movie, THE SUICIDE SQUAD is an absolute blast.
The only thing approaching the fun of watching the new SUICIDE SQUAD was talking to Gunn and the all-star cast about making the new movie.
Apparently, Gunn had always had his eye on THE SUICIDE SQUAD, even before the first film was made. “I always thought it would be a great cinematic property. And to be completely honest I was jealous when I heard the first movie was being made,” Gunn said. “I’ve coveted my neighbor’s wife and now I’m married to her.”
Robbie, who is reprising her role as Harley Quinn for the third time, she was still able to find a new dimension to the character. “I feel like she was more independent than we’d seen her previously. She’s completely detached from Mr. J,” Robbie said, referring to Jared Leto’s Joker. "And this time she seems well and truly past that. She’s also weirdly focused and in work mode, in my mind. Even though for Harley that doesn’t mean she’s straight-y 180. She’s still all over the map."
And it was something of a surprise to learn that Cena, who has recently showcased both his acting (in this summer’s F9) and comedic chops (in BLOCKERS and TRAINWRECK), had never before been asked to take on the role of a superhero (or villain). “I want to live in your imagination world where I’m offered every superhero under the sun. That’s actually not true. I never thought I would be in the superhero franchise universe just because Joel has said, oftentimes, when you do something it’s very difficult to change what they see,” Cena explained. “And unless there’s a superhero out there who wears a baseball hat and jorts, I don’t know what else I’m qualified for.” Still, he chalks it up to Gunn’s imagination and playful sense of casting that led to him securing the role.
Just one word of advice from Gunn: “I hope people see it in a big Cinemark theater,” Gunn said. “That’s how you’ve got to see it.” We couldn’t agree more.
Find out what Flula Borg (who plays Javelin) compares to a chile con carne, plus much more, in the video below:
THE SUICIDE SQUAD opens on August 6!
All images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.