The all-star cast for Warner Brothers’ forthcoming DC Comics-inspired movie Suicide Squad has been revealed.
As Variety report, musican/actor Jared Leto will play Batman’s archenemy The Joker, Will Smith will take on the role of Deadshot, with Tom Hardy playing Rick Flagg and Margot Robbie performing as The Joker’s protege, Harley Quinn. Also set to appear in the David Ayer-directed 2016 film will be Jai Courtney as Boomerang and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.
Variety have noted that Suicide Squad will begin shooting in Toronto, Canada in April, with a US release date currently set for 5th August 2016. According to sources close to the project, Jesse Eisenberg has been in talks to play Lex Luthor in Suicide Squad. The actor will play the role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, set to be released in March 2016, but the details of his contract are unknown.
Related: Are You Familiar With DC Comics’ ‘Suicide Squad’?
Warner Brothers also needs to fill the role of Suicide Squad overseer Amanda Walker. The studio’s current shortlist of actors is said to include Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Oprah Winfrey, who is reportedly WB’s first choice for the role.
Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production at Warner Brothers, has said in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter) that “The Warner Bros. roots are deep on this one”.
“David Ayer returns to the studio where he wrote Training Day and brings his incredible ability to craft multidimensional villains to this iconic DC property with a cast of longtime Warner collaborators Will Smith and Tom Hardy, and other new and returning favorites: Margot, Jared, Jai and Cara,” Silverman said. “We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under Ayer’s amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero.”
News of Robbie’s casting arose last month, with Leto being eyed for the role of The Joker after winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club. Leto’s portrayal of The Joker will be the first reprisal of the role since the late Heath Ledger’s protrayal of the villain in the 2008 move The Dark Knight.
