Suicide Squad fans got a first-look at the much-anticipated standalone sequel to the 2016 hit film during DC’s virtual FanDome Panel on Saturday.
Director James Gunn helped introduce a nearly two-minute roll call video that unveiled the cast of characters, as well as an action-packed behind-the-scenes video chalk-full of footage from his reboot and interviews with some of the cast.
‘By far the most fun I’ve ever had making a movie,’ Gunn, 54, told fans during the panel.
‘This is a gritty 1970s war movie combined with the brilliance of James Gunn’s characters and comedy,’ producer Peter Safran added.
Scroll down to videos
First look! The cast of the upcoming superhero film The Suicide Squad was unveiled during DC’s virtual FanDome Panel on Saturday in a roll call video
First look! Director James Gunn also shared an action-packed behind-the-scenes video chalk-full of footage from his reboot and interviews with the cast
‘The character I was most excited to write for was Harley Quinn. There’s a chaotic, trickster god [element] to her,’ Gunn confessed.
Margot Robbie will be reprising her role as Harley Quinn — but this go-around she will be decked out a red and black leather ensemble, instead of the iconic t-shirt and short shorts she wore in the original film that was directed by David Ayer.
Among the others confirmed to be returning for the sequel in the roll call video: Viola Davis as government agent Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman is back as Rick Flag and Jai Courtney will play Captain Boomerang.
She’s back! Margot Robbie will be reprising her role as Harley Quinn — but this go-around she will be decked out a red and black leather ensemble
Round two: Viola Davis retuns as government agent Amanda Waller
Taking aim: Joel Kinnaman is back as Rick Flag
Deadly: Jai Courtney is also back to play Captain Boomerang.
Arguably the biggest change for the sequel is Idris Elba taking over the role of Floyd Lawton/Bloodshot for Will Smith, who had to bow out of the project due to scheduling conflicts.
Some of the other new castmembers include Pete Davidson as Blackguard and John Cena plays the character called Peace-Maker.
David Dastmalchian, Steve Agee, Daniela Melchior, Nathan Fillion, Peter Capaldi, Alice Braga, Michael Rooker, Taika Waititi , Flula Borg and Jennifer Holland are also appearing in the film, which is the tenth in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU)
On target: Arguably the biggest change for the sequel is Idris Elba taking over the role of Floyd Lawton/Bloodshot for Will Smith
Ready to rock: Pete Davidson also joins the cast as Blackguard
Newbie: John Cena plays the character called Peace-Maker
‘I was excited to do this suicide squad in the way it could be done from my point of view,’ Gunn revealed in the behind-the-scenes video.
‘This is by far the biggest movie I have ever made.. and will be different from any superhero movie ever made.’
And those are bold words considering his wrote and directed Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), which both starred Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan and Michael Rooker, among others.
Lofty statements: ‘This is by far the biggest movie I have ever made.. and will be different from any superhero movie ever made,’ Gunn declared in the behind-the-scenes video
On point: Elba is tough as nails as Bloodshot
Tough guy: Cena showed some of action-star moves in one scene
Explosive: Robbie got into some fiery action as Harley Quinn
With the mass closures of film and television sets all over the world since COVID-19 was deemed a pandemic in mid-March, Gunn had been keeping fans updated on the progress of production on social media.
In April, he put their minds to rest when he announced that the sequel would not be affected by the delays.
‘We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting and set up editing from our homes (due to a post production team and studio with foresight) before quarantine,’ he added.
The 2016 original was a massive box office hit, grossing $746 million worldwide on a $175 million dollar budget before promotion.
The Suicide Squad is slated to premiere in theaters August 6, 2021.
‘Action packed: This is a gritty 1970s war movie combined with the brilliance of James Gunn’s characters and comedy,’ producer Peter Safran said of the film
Look out: The teaser video also includes some high-flying action
The cast of characters: Some of the cast posed for some pictures in front a green screen
Blockbuster in the making: The Suicide Squad is slated to premiere August 6, 2021
Gunn also teased fans with one of the new posters for the film