James Gunn shares details about The Suicide Squad as filming begins

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Filmmaker James Gunn has had one crazy year, one which found him being let go from directing GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3, then being hired for DC’s THE SUICIDE SQUAD, and then being back on for GUARDIANS. He’s now back in the director’s chair with SUICIDE SQUAD on the docket first, and as filming officially kicks off Gunn took to Instagram to share a photo of a lovely gift he got to commemorate the occasion, and in the process shed some light on the comic book inspirations for the flick.

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Gunn posted a picture of the comic he got – “The Brave and The Bold” #25 – which marked the first incarnation of the Suicide Squad all the way back in 1959. Of course, the team looked much different then, featuring characters like Rick Flag Jr., Karen Grace, Dr. Hugh Evans and Jess Bright, and fewer crazy clowns and human-crocodiles.

“Great gift for the start of shooting from my agent and friend Charlie – the first ever appearance of a very different Suicide Squad in Brave & the Bold 25 (the Justice League would debut in the same comic just 3 issues later). #TheSuicideSquad,” he wrote in the caption.

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After the picture posted fans took to the comments to ask questions about the upcoming flick, leading one commenter to ask if King Shark was present in this early version (via Batman-News). Gunn dropped some knowledge about the history of the Squad, and in the process opened up a bit about the movie’s comic book influences, particularly John Ostrander’s reinvention of the Squad in 1987.

King Shark is a relatively recent member of the team. The original Squad was a group of adventurers, soldiers and scientists, who explored and battled anomalous events. Ostrander in the 80’s introduced the idea of the Dirty Dozen with disposable, second rate supervillains. King Shark didn’t enter the team till the 2000’s. Our movie takes elements from all those timelines but is especially indebted to Ostrander (and Kim Yale).

THE SUICIDE SQUAD will have one impressive cast, featuring names like Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, John Cena, Michael Rooker, Nathan Fillion, Peter Capaldi, Pete Davidson, Alice Braga, Taika Waititi and so many more. 

THE SUICIDE SQUAD is set for August 2021.