Warning: Contains spoilers for The Suicide Squad
James Gunn has revealed which of the many deaths in violence and high-profile character deaths. Gunn himself alluded to this in the film’s promotional tagline,“Don’t get too attached,” prior to its release.
Warner Bros.’ latest DC offering has performed poorly at the box office but has become HBO Max’s most-watched DC movie. In addition to that, The Suicide Squad has received rave reviews from both critics and audiences, with many praising Gunn’s ability to inject a great deal of emotion into the story. One way the director has effectively done this is through the deaths of various characters, most notably Rick Flag. Flag is killed by Peacemaker in one of the more memorable scenes in the film after he tries to “do good.” Gunn previously mentioned that two deaths in the film always make him cry, and during The Suicide Squad’s HBO Max Watch Party, he revealed one of them.
During the live watch party, Peacemaker and Rick fighting in Peacemaker’s helmet, it also features an internal image of Rick’s heart once he is stabbed. Gunn also mentions this shot in the tweet and explains it was because he “wanted people to see very clearly this was actual death.” Read Gunn's full tweet below:
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Out of the many deaths in The Suicide Squad, none are more emotional than Rick Flag’s, so it’s easy to see why this particular moment makes Gunn cry. The death carries extra weight considering the moral standing of the two characters, as Peacemaker’s blind and foolish following of Amanda Waller’s orders lead to Flag's demise. Rick’s final words (“Peacemaker, what a joke.”) and Peacemaker’s reaction are also perhaps a precursor for the Peacemaker series. Gunn has previously alluded to wanting to explore “something below” Peacemaker’s hardened exterior. Interestingly, the director also justifies the heart shot as crucial to the audience's understanding. In a film with so many deaths (and teased deaths), Rick’s hits home even more because showing his damaged heart confirms that he is indeed dead.
Gunn has said he wants to tell more stories about DC’s villains, and has also teased more The Suicide Squad spinoff shows. Given that, it’s possible that Rick Flag could return. For now, HBO Max’s Peacemaker will be Gunn's next DC project, with Cena stating the show “turns up the volume” from what audiences see in The Suicide Squad. Expectant viewers can only assume that means plenty more death scenes to come. Whether or not they have the same emotional impact on Gunn or his fans remains to be seen.
Source: James Gunn
