Suicide Squad will be a major step for Warner Bros. and its developing DC cinematic universe, the first movie to arrive in a post-Batman v Superman world that could – according to rumors – set the stage for several future projects, including a solo Batman movie for Ben Affleck. But it is a work in progress, a fact made clear by the constant casting shuffles that we have been reporting on. Recently, the role of Rick Flag has been in flux, as names like Tom Hardy and Jake Gyllenhaal distanced themselves from the part. But two replacements just crossed our desk, and they are both incredibly intriguing, for different reasons.
A source with knowledge of the project has told us that Suicide Squad is now looking at Joel Edgerton and Jon Bernthal for the role of Rick Flag. Bernthal’s name actually was floated for a possible role in the ensemble feature in November, so it’s possible that director David Ayer has just continued to lobby for him. Ayer worked with Bernthal on the WWII tank drama Fury, which came out last year. If Ayer was going to bring anybody along with him, Bernthal would make sense.
Joel Edgerton is another intriguing name who is always floating around tentpole opportunities, waiting for his huge break. Though he recently shared screen time with Christian Bale in Exodus, he also held down the role of Uncle Owen in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, contributed to Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, and played Tom Hardy’s brother in the outstanding and VASTLY underrated Warrior.
Both names make a ton of sense, for this reason. The Rick Flag role, from what we have been hearing, will not be a focal point in the story. The main roles belong to Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Jared Leto, who will play The Joker. Both Edgerton and Bernthal are more than capable to elevating genre material, and they are dependable actors who don’t have to be "stars," pulling focus away from the likes of the big-named three I just mentioned. No word on which actor has the edge, just that these are the names currently being looked at for Rick Flag.
This same source was able to confirm a rumor that just broke (via Latino-Review’s elmayimbe), that Criminal Minds star Gary Sinise has landed a role in Suicide Squad, but they do not believe that he is playing either General Eiling or Deathstroke. At the moment, we are being told that Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike) is in contention to play Deathstroke in the film, but that is unconfirmed at the moment, so take it with a grain of salt.
Casting on David Ayer’s Suicide Squad will have to button up soon if the movie wants to maintain its August 5, 2016 release date. For now, what do you think of either Joel Edgerton or Jon Bernthal as Rick Flag in the movie?
