While it's nowhere to be found on the current DCU slate, there's room for Suicide Squad 3 to happen down the line — even if it's not made by James Gunn. The great thing about the Suicide Squad stories in the comics is that many of them feature new lineups because so many characters die in them. That allows the stories and creative takes on them to feel fresh, which is very much how The Suicide Squad film feels.
Gunn took over writing and directing duties for The Suicide Squad from David Ayer, who helmed the first Suicide Squad movie in 2016. At the time, the DCEU timeline was just getting underway and much of Warner Bros. (and DC Films) leadership looked different than it does today. The Suicide Squad was ultimately released in theaters and on HBO Max in August 2021, almost three years after WB announced Gunn would be helming the film.
With some of the main cast from the first film returning for the sequel, along with a variety of strange choices making up the new batch of characters, The Suicide Squad was poised to be an exciting step for DC Films. Now that the DC Universe reboot under James Gunn and Peter Safran seems to be moving ahead full steam, and making many big changes for the franchise, the question of what's happening with Suicide Squad 3 is now more pressing than ever.
Suicide Squad 3 Isn't Confirmed
Suicide Squad 3 isn't confirmed yet. Unlike with the original film where WB put several spinoffs and sequel ideas into development, the DCU appears to be building momentum slowly to allow a new era of the franchise to blossom, which means any news regarding either confirming Suicide Squad 3's existence or confirming it will never exist could take some time.
The DCU Still Needs Two More DCEU Characters To Pay Off A 3-Year-Old Tease
Two DCEU anti-heroes introduced in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad could return in the DCU, just as characters like Peacemaker are already coming back.
James Gunn has discussed possibly making Suicide Squad 3 with an all-new team, but that would be some years away from happening were it to come to fruition, given he's focusing on revitalizing the DC movie landscape as a whole. With Peacemaker season 2 on the way, though, the Suicide Squad franchise continues to expand, and if the second season matches the success of the first, it could solidify the chances of at least one Suicide Squad character becoming a definite mainstay.
The beauty is that each Suicide Squad film can be a full reset from what came before, enticing would-be writers and directors with total creative freedom, and keeping the potential for a follow-up alive, even if this requires drastic changes to work in the new DC landscape.
What James Gunn Has Said About Suicide Squad 3
In an interview on the Inside Of You podcast in 2023, James Gunn made things sound even less likely. When asked about whether a follow-up movie was in the making, he responded with a simple, "no." Gunn expanded that, “we’ve talked about it... but the honest truth is, I just have so many hours in a day to work on stuff. And I had such a fun time working in television that I really think that’s what I’m going to spend the next year of my life doing.”
However, the DC Studios co-CEO also appeared to suggest that a new DC movie with The Suicide Squad characters might be something he'd consider making happen in the future. It's also worth noting that the recent slate of DC movies and shows — DCU Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters — includes a handful of TV projects with Amanda Waller, who remains cast as Viola Davis, alongside John Cena's Peacemaker.
Suicide Squad 3 Cast: Who Could Return?
There are no official announcements for the Suicide Squad 3 cast. Both Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad saw a revolving door of DC antiheroes, with a few select characters appearing in both films, such as Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn and Joel Kinnaman's Rick Flag. That being said, Rick Flag is deceased, so Joel Kinnaman obviously won't appear in the third installment. Task Force X has a wealth of different DC villain lineups to choose from, so if Suicide Squad 3 were to happen, there's a chance that audiences would see an entirely new team.
Suicide Squad 3 Story Details: How The Original Ending Sets Up More
Throughout DC Comics' history, various versions of Rick Flag have led Task Force X during their missions, which has also been the case for WB's two Suicide Squad movies. Following his death, someone else will need to lead the team. Taking into The Suicide Squad's post-credits scene, the Peacemaker TV series, and the fact that John Cena is a recognizable star worldwide, Peacemaker could certainly take charge of the next Suicide Squad team.
DCU’s Reboot Can Bring Back The DCEU’s Most Underrated Hero 3 Years After His Movie Sacrifice
One of the DCEU's most tragic sacrifices can be undone as the DCU reboot reopens the possibility of this underrated hero's return to the big screen.
Beyond that, it's difficult to deduce what the next story could be. It's possible Project Starfish could come back to bite the U.S. government, but retreading that story now that Starro is dead is unnecessary. More likely, another mission entirely separate from this one will take priority. Luckily, there are a handful of projects in the works that could eventually lead to a third Suicide Squad movie.
The DCU Continues The Suicide Squad's Legacy
Jumping into the DCU, James Gunn doesn't seem content to let the characters and narrative he began in The Suicide Squad fall to the wayside. Peacemaker season one was a hit, and season 2 will be released sometime in 2025. Peacemaker season two will also feature Rick Flag Sr, the father of Rick Flag, played by Frank Grillo. Rick Flag Sr will make his DCU debut prior to Peacemaker in Creature Commandos, an animated series premiering in December 2024. James Gunn's Superman film will also feature Rick Flag Sr in some capacity.
The death of Rick Flag in The Suicide Squad seems like it will have reverberating consequences for certain projects within the DCU. James Gunn has done an effective job building out storylines from The Suicide Squad, even with the jump from the DCEU to the DCU. Even Weasel, played by Sean Gunn, in the film is included in Creature Commandos. If, unfortunately, Suicide Squad 3 never comes to fruition, at least the franchise's legacy will continue through multiple other projects.
The Suicide Squad
- Release Date
- August 6, 2021
- Runtime
- 132 minutes
- Director
- James Gunn
Cast
Harley Quinn
Bloodsport
WHERE TO WATCH
The Suicide Squad: Released in 2021, The Suicide Squad features supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, and Peacemaker, among others, as they Task Force X. The team embarks on a mission on the enemy-held island of Corto Maltese under the direction of Amanda Waller in this entry of the DC Extended Universe.
- Writers
- James Gunn
- Franchise(s)
- DC Extended Universe, The Suicide Squad
- Studio(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $185 Million
- Main Genre
- Action
DC Movie Releases
Source: Inside of You Podcast
Your comment has not been saved