‘The Suicide Squad’ behind-the-scenes reel blows minds (and explodes heads)
Wow! I don’t know what we all expected, but James Gunn and company delivered big time.
The panel began with James Gunn showing us an epic roll call video that introduced the entire cast and finally revealed the characters. With so many big names involved, fans have gone wild over the last year with speculation, but now it’s all confirmed.
We have the returning cast of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. However, fans will be thrilled this time around to see them sporting costumes that align more closely with their classic, comic book appearances. Flag has his yellow shirt, Boomerang is in blue and orange, and Harley Quinn is finally donning her iconic red and black aesthetic.
I didn’t care for her look in “Suicide Squad” and liked her costumes much more in “Birds of Prey,” but this is by far the best look she has ever had in a film. I truly can’t get over how her hair, makeup and costume just all come together — with a bazooka propped over her shoulder as the cherry on top.
Michael Rooker comes over from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Savant, as does David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, who looks delightfully absurd. Idris Elba looks as badass as ever as Bloodsport, an obscure assassin who locked his sights on Superman in the comics. Some of the bigger names in the cast include Peter Capaldi as Thinker, Pete Davidson as Blackguard and John Cena as Peacekeeper.
The panel concluded with an insane behind-the-scenes reel that included B-roll clips, as well as footage from the actual film. I expected a big production, but this thing looks massive. Enormous sets, practical explosions, high-flying stunts and every single cast member looking as if they’re having the time of their life.
“There’s no one better in the world to direct ‘The Suicide Squad’ than James Gunn,” Dastmalchian said.
Producer Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “Shazam!”) also hyped up Gunn’s singular vision for the film. “This one is completely unique,” Safran said. “This is a gritty, 1970s war movie combined with the brilliance of James Gunn’s characters and comedy.”
My excitement for this was also very high, with the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films being my favorites in the MCU. James Gunn looks to be bringing everything he has ever done — and much more — to this project. The only downside? A year of waiting.
“The Suicide Squad” hits theaters August 6, 2021.
Johnny Sobczak View All
Johnny Sobczak is an entertainment journalist and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Media and Journalism and minored in Global Cinema. Johnny is a member of the North Carolina Film Critics Association and has been with Inside the Film Room since August 2019. He was named Senior Writer in January 2020 and co-hosts the Inside the Film Room podcast with Zach Goins. Johnny spends his days job-hunting, watching films and obsessing over every new detail of Denis Villeneuve's "Dune."