Tag: Rick Flagg

Introducing Task Force X: First Cast Photo of ‘Suicide Squad’!

by Eric Francisco

On the weekend that Marvel Studios seems poised to take over with the massively successful Avengers: Age of Ultron, one surefire way to steal some thunder as their biggest competitor is to show what you’ve got cooking. Suicide Squad director David Ayer just served up a nice, hot appetizer, so dig in. (By the way, I’m kind of hungry, can anyone make me something?)

David Ayer tweeted the first official cast photo, seen below.

If you’re darting your eyes looking for Jared Leto as The Joker, you can lean back in your chair. He’s not in it. While this is from Suicide Squad, it’s a photo of the assembled Task Force X, and rumors of Joker playing more of a villain than anti-hero protagonist seem to be true.

But if you want to know who makes up Task Force X, here’s the breakdown:

Adam Beach (Slipknot), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), Cara Delevinge (Enchantress), Karen Fukuhara (Katana), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flagg), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Will Smith (Deadshot), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc), and Jay Hernandez (Diablo).

Out the gate, I can say one thing: I like it! If any of the upcoming DC movies has me the most excited it’s Suicide Squad, and this first look hasn’t disappointed me. Yeah, it’s erring on the comically gritty tone that DC seems to be aiming for that I’ve had quite enough of, but this is nice. I’m picking up what they’re putting down (or, uploading online).

One of the most crucial elements to nail down for Suicide Squad is Harley Quinn, a tall order as she’s been a longtime fan favorite that hasn’t had her day in the cinematic sun. Margot Robbie looks amazing so far, so consider expectations for Suicide Squad raised. It’s certainly a 180 from how I felt about Jared Leto’s Juggalo-on-meth Joker.

That’s not all though. Here’s a clearer look at Will Smith as Deadshot in full costume that Ayer tweeted shortly after.

Excited? You’ve still got over a year to go, so just relax. Suicide Squad is set for August 5, 2016.

Jake Gyllenhaal Replaces Tom Hardy in ‘Suicide Squad’ [UPDATE]

by Eric Francisco

UPDATE: It has been clarified that Jake Gyllenhaal is only in the running to replace Tom Hardy, it has not been confirmed. We apologize for the mistake.

Trying to decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Tom Hardy has just departed from Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad for scheduling reasons and has been replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal.

From TheWrap:

Hardy was forced to exit the project because Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “The Revenant” is going over schedule into mid-March, after which Hardy will be needed to promote WB’s “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which comes out on May 15. “Suicide Squad” is expected to start production in April, and that time crunch is why Hardy had to drop out of the film.

Let’s get the bad out of the way: No more Tom Hardy. While Margot Robbie and Jared Leto’s Harley Quinn and Joker respectively remain my number one reason to see Suicide Squad, Tom Hardy as Rick Flagg could have been a show stealer because he practically show steals every time. Even the terrible Bane from The Dark Knight Rises is a fun watch if you’re in the right headspace.

Now for the good: Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal has always been a captivating actor, but this year’s Nightcrawler made everyone rally for him when he was curiously snubbed for an Oscar earlier today (reactions to that coming soon). His omission from the race (among others, like everyone involved with Selma) has been a point of backlash against the Academy today, and I’ve seen no shortage of outrage on behalf of Gyllenhaal on social media.

There’s cold comfort in that Tom Hardy left for the simple reason that he can’t make time for it. There was no diva breakdown or hatred or bad blood for anyone or for the superhero genre. In any case, Suicide Squad remains the DC movie to watch, and they have an incredibly solid choice in Gyllenhaal.

Suicide Squad is set for release August 5, 2016. (Holy shit, I will have seen a Power Rangers movie by then.)