James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is bringing back yet another cast member from David Ayer’s original. Joel Kinnaman played Colonel Rick Flagg in 2016’s Suicide Squad and previously indicated that he didn’t expect to return for the new movie. However, the latest post on the actor’s Instagram feed confirms that he’s going to be commanding the group of supervillains around once again, as it sees Kinnaman getting in some shooting practice, which he describes as “easing into that squad prepppppp.”
DC producer Peter Safran made a big deal a few months ago about how much TSS would be a “total reboot” of the 2016 movie. However, since then, it’s become clear that James Gunn’s film is, in fact, what’s commonly called a sequel. We’re sure the director’s unique style will give it a very different tone, but the many returning stars proves that it’s still a follow-up to the first time Task Force X assembled on screen.
At the time of Safran’s statement, Idris Elba was set to takeover from Will Smith as Deadshot, though the decision was ultimately made to give him his own character – maybe even Deathstroke. Of the original players, however, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney and Margot Robbie are all expected to return. They’ll be joined by newcomers David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, John Cena as Peacemaker and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher. Michael Rooker, meanwhile, could be playing King Shark, while Benicio del Toro is being sought for the villain.
Last time we saw Flagg, he’d managed to rescue his girlfriend June Moon (Cara Delevingne) and defeat the Enchantress, who was possessing her. It would’ve been easy to explain his absence as he got his happy ending, but it seems domestic bliss isn’t for him and he’s elected to return to Task Force X.
Either that, or Amanda Waller’s manipulated him back into service. Knowing The Wall, it’s probably the latter. We’ll find out for sure though when The Suicide Squad – which could be R-rated – breaks into theaters on August 6th, 2021.
