After the main core of David Ayer’s Suicide Squad were officially announced at the beginning of December, folks were left wondering about one key player absent from the news. No group of superheroes or villains are fit for action without an inspirational leader. Or, in the case of this squad, former congressional aide Amanda Waller, who was finally cast weeks later when Latino Review revealed that How To Get Away With Murder star Viola Davis had bagged the role.
In the comics, Waller is tasked with leading the supervillain team during their many missions, and is deemed by many to be a similar equivalent to S.H.I.E.L.D’s Nick Fury in the Marvel universe. Whether or not the DC-verse intends to keep Davis and her cinematic counterpart around for future instalments, it’s too early to say. But, you can’t find any fault with Davis’ method, as she revealed in an interview with NerdReport – essentially confirming her involvement – that she’d yet to start doing her homework. But she will:
“Not yet,” Davis said. “I have not started reading them yet. I’ve read up about her but I’m working out my schedule for Suicide Squad.”
“I’m fascinated by her. I’m fascinated by her in this world of superhero-ness because she is not a woman that you would expect. I think that she is a massive contradiction. She’s this big powerful black woman, hard, ready to pick up a gun and shoot anyone at will. I’m fascinated in exploring her psychology, just put it that way. And I’m excited to pick up a gun.”
Davis is expected to assemble the notorious crew of criminals, which includes Jared Leto as The Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Tom Hardy as Col. Rick Flagg and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress.
Slated to begin lensing this April in Toronto, Suicide Squad will land in theaters on August 5th, 2016.