The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating life in theaters. After some missteps with the first few installments, Warner Bros.' massive franchise seems to have found its stride with the releases of Shazam! and Aquaman. There are some exciting projects coming down the pipeline in the DCEU, one of the most highly anticipated being James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Ben Affleck's Batman was in David Ayer's first Suicide Squad, so should we expect the Bats in James Gunn's upcoming reboot/sequel?
James Gunn signed on to helm The Suicide Squad in the months between his firing from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and his eventual reinstatement by Disney. Gunn has since returned to the public eye, once again using social media to directly communicate with moviegoers. He was recently asked (repeatedly) if Batman would be in The Suicide Squad, and Gunn addressed the concern on his Instagram story, saying:
You can check out Batman in The Batman June 2021. The Suicide Squad will feature mostly, you know, The Suicide Squad.
Touche, Mr. Gunn. While Ben Affleck's Batman had a few brief cameos in the first Suicide Squad, it doesn't look like the Guardians director is going to go the same route with his take on the titular team of villains. Instead, he'll put the focus on the team itself. Although exactly which characters make up the squad remains a mystery for the time being.
James Gunn's Instagram Story highlights how the director/writer/producer plans to put his own spin on the DC villains with The Suicide Squad. Despite having a connection to David Ayer's 2016 blockbuster, Gunn isn't the type of filmmaker to simply follow the leader. He's got a unique perspective, one that has served the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise well.
Related: James Gunn Won’t Reveal Whether The Suicide Squad Is A Reboot Or Sequel
Suicide Squad featured Batfleck in a small role, mostly revealing how certain villains were apprehended and sent to Belle Reve. He also had a quick scene with Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, although Affleck's departure likely indicates that plot line will never come to fruition. As a reminder, you can check out Batman's scenes from Suicide Squad below.
Alas, it seems Gotham's protector won't pop up in The Suicide Squad. Although aside from that fact and a few cast members, the contents of James Gunn's DC debut remain a complete mystery to the public.
The Suicide Squad might not feature Batman, but there will be plenty of familiar faces in the long developing project. Margot Robbie will be back for her third appearance as Harley Quinn, joined by Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), and Viola Davis (Amanda Waller). New faces include Idris Elba, John Cena, and Storm Reid.
James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is currently set to arrive in theaters on August 6th, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
