Just hours ago we learned about Viola Davis joining James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. And now, another major development concerning the project has come our way.
Multiple Hollywood trades, including Variety, are reporting that Idris Elba will not replace Will Smith as Floyd Lawton, aka Deadshot, in The Suicide Squad, even though the contrary was suggested by the same trades a month ago. That, however, doesn't mean Elba is bidding farewell the project. The trades have learned that Gunn is providing the British actor with a different role.
The decision has been apparently made out of respect for Smith, who only had to leave the project behind due to scheduling conflicts, rather than over creative differences or payment issues. Considering that he loves playing the character and that he also earned approval of critics and fans in the role, it wouldn't be surprising to see him return as the deadly assassin in a future DC Comics adaptation.
At the moment, there's no word on what character Elba would be portraying in upcoming August 6, 2021 release. But of course, there are at least a dozen of characters that Gunn may have in mind for the 46-year-old actor. Perhaps, the strongest possibility is that he will play Bronze Tiger.
The trades seem to agree that Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn will return in The Suicide Squad along with Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang and Viola Davis' Amanda Waller. Although it was rumored that Joel Kinnaman would have to sit out the James Gunn flick, DiscussingFilm claims that the Swedish-American actor will appear as Rick Flag. But it would probably be wiser to take this one with a pinch of salt for now.
