DC Comics and Warner Bros. are really stepping it up with movie adaptations. After making some big announcements for the next several years of their film slate, today we get some big casting news for one of the more unique projects. SUICIDE SQUAD isn’t one of those comic books everyone has heard of, but it’s got a solid stable of characters to work with. Variety broke the news today that Jared Leto, Will Smith, Tom Hardy, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney and Cara Delevingne will make up the cast of the new project. For those unfamiliar, SUICIDE SQUAD is about a team of supervillains, not superheroes, though this story is about them being given an opportunity to redeem themselves by going on a deadly mission for the government. Some of these names have been in the rumor mill for a while already, but now it’s confirmed.
Jared Leto will play The Joker, Will Smith will play Deadshot, Tom Hardy will play Rick Flag, Margot Robbie will play Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney will play Boomerang, and Cara Delevingne will play. Enchantress. David Ayer (FURY) is the director, with Charles Roven and Richard Suckle producing. There’s also a rumor that Jesse Eisenberg, who is playing Lex Luthor in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, may show up in the film as well.
Warner Bros. president Greg Silverman was quoted to say “The Warner Bros. roots are deep on this one. We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under David Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero.”
One interesting role that has not yet been cast is that of Amanda Waller, who is in charge of the team – think Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in charge of The Avengers. It’s said the shortlist of names being looked at for that role include Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and the one and only Oprah Winfrey. Sources indicate Oprah is the top choice for the studio. It’s safe to say getting someone like Winfrey for a big comic book movie like this would be a real feat, but would she commit to possibly more films, or even crossover appearances? Sam Jackson has been frequently seen in Marvel movies because he’s such a fan of the material, but (to our knowledge at least) Oprah isn’t exactly into all this stuff.
Then there’s the question of Jared Leto being cast as The Joker, and what that means for other DC-based films. There’s inevitably going to be a stand-alone Batman film in a few years, so will Leto’s Joker play a role in that? And what sort of background will we get on these character? That’s a lot of origins to cover, so will they even bother, or just thrust us into their pre-existing lives? I supposed more info will come to light as things start moving on SUICIDE SQUAD, but the in the meantime what do you think of this casting news? Tell us in the comments below.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
