James Gunn, DC lovers and A-holes everywhere, you’re in luck! The legendary screenwriter and director with a knack for tonally irreverent comic book adaptations sat down with Empire Magazine to discuss all things The Suicide Squad. But that’s not all! Empire also revealed a slew of exclusive stills from The Suicide Squad along with the official covers for their December 2020 issue.
Now, Gunn delved into the differences between his predecessor David Ayer‘s Suicide Squad and his own take on the franchise. The Suicide Squad isn’t a reboot per se since it boasts several characters from the original including Margot Robbie‘s Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman‘s Rick Flag, Viola Davis‘ Amanda Waller and Jai Courtney‘s Captain Boomerang. However, The Suicide Squad does differ from the first flick in one way — Gunn was given full license to kill.
… in The Suicide Squad, some of the characters end up being good, some end up being terrible. They don’t just get in fights and say they’re going to kill each other, they actually do get in fights and kill each other. You really don’t know who’s going to live and who’s going to die. I was given full freedom to kill anyone – and I mean anyone – by DC.
Gunn also mentions that these characters are vastly different from our favorite “bunch of A-holes” in Guardians of the Galaxy.
I think you know, from pretty close to the beginning, that all of the Guardians are good – apart from Nebula, who’s the outlier.
Additionally, Gunn praised Ayer for his work in Suicide Squad. While the film did rake in a cool $750 million in global box office revenue, critics and fans alike shared the same consensus of disappointment. But Gunn, being the classy gentleman he is, ensured that Ayer received due praise.
Listen, David Ayer’s gotten trouble for the movie. I know it didn’t come out how David wanted it to come out. But he did one really, really great thing, and that is he picked fantastic actors to work with, and he dealt with these actors in building their characters in a really deep and fearless way. It’s something David definitely deserves to be lauded for, and it’s definitely added to this movie.
RELATED: DC FanDome: The Suicide Squad Panel Reveals Full Cast and BTS Footage
I’m more stoked than ever to absorb The Suicide Squad via my eyeballs. Just full-on eyeball absorption. James Gunn is a visionary in the comic book adaptation world. If he can essentially revitalize the MCU for the better, I have absolute faith he’ll do the same for the DCEU.
Below, you can take a peek at the exclusive Empire images and covers.
Are you excited for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad? Sound off in the comments below!
[email protected]
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
- MAYFAIR WITCHES Recap: (S02E03) Cover the Mirrors - January 19, 2025
- GGA’s Favorite Quotes From ANIMAL CONTROL’s ‘Goats, Snakes, and Dogs’ - January 18, 2025
- OUTLANDER Season Finale Recap: (S07E16) A Hundred Thousand Angels - January 17, 2025
