New exclusive images seemed to reveal that two separate iterations of Task Force X — here's the likely reason for why that is. The DCEU installment was written and directed by James Gunn, with only a tangential connection to David Ayer's 2016 original. That came in the form of Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, and Joel Kinnaman, who reprised their roles of Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and Rick Flag, respectively. Viola Davis was also confirmed to be returning as Suicide Squad architect, Amanda Waller.
The rest of the eclectic cast was confirmed to include John Cena, Idris Elba, Peter Capaldi, and Nathan Fillion as the formerly mysterious TDK. The story of The Suicide Squad has remained expectedly under wraps. Drawing inspiration from gritty 1970s war movies, the team was seemingly tasked with aiding South American revolutionaries, led by Alice Braga's Sol Soria. This endeavor would pit them against a ruthless dictator named Silvio Luna (Juan Diego Botto). Recent reports, however, have suggested that the threat will be much more dangerous and otherworldly. If that turned out to be indeed the case, it would adequately explain why the photos revealed the group to be distinctly split in two.
The first image, which has come to be known as "The Red Team", included Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and Rick Flag. Alongside them, such new as Javelin (Flula Borg), Mongal (Mayling Ng), Savant (Michael Rooker), TDK, and Blackguard (Pete Davidson) can be seen. The photo appeared to be taken from the plane that (as per the DC FanDome footage) they will later dive out of. Other confirmed characters for The Suicide Squad — Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), Cena's Peacemaker, Elba's Bloodsport, and Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior) — are nowhere to be seen onboard. The likely reason for the separation is that Harley and the rest comprise an Alpha Team that, not realizing the extent of the danger, are quickly taken out (or taken over) by the real threat that is Starro, Suicide Squad 2's main villain. And the others are Amanda Waller's Plan B, a team sent in to figure out what went wrong.
The move would fit the tone that Gunn has apparently gone for with The Suicide Squad — with a group searching for a lost unit being a staple of the blended genres of war film and science-fiction. It would equally explain why Task Force X, rather than the Justice League, would deal with such a substantial threat. Both groups would be effectively going in blind and then be forced to deal with the situation for the sake of their own survival. It would also add a legitimate story reason for Harley Quinn's apparent costume change mid-mission. On the plane, she can be seen in much more tactical attire. Meanwhile, during parts of the trailer, Harley was seen battling in a dress. The change could be due to being forced to adopt a more traditionally feminine look after being captured by Luna/brainwashed by Starro. As such, it would only add to the level of villainy on display. It would also further Harley's strength of character, and add to her experience of breaking free of other's mental control.
The concept would also line up with Gunn's repeated statements regarding having free reign over the characters' fates. After all, many of the first team will be outright canon fodder to establish the film's principal threat. It equally lends credence to the statement that of this squad will fight and even kill each other. As well as the group's usual bickering spilling over into violence, they might literally be forced to clash, with of the original team brainwashed into being Starro's drones. That would certainly be more interesting than repeating the worst mistake of the original Suicide Squad. It will also give fans even more things to ponder and look forward to. As well as what individual team-ups will emerge from the overall group in The Suicide Squad, they can now wonder and predict who they want to see battle it out.
