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Anticipation for The Suicide Squad has grown as director James Gunn and the cast continue teasing it. One thing DC fans have been wondering about is the inclusion of DC supervillain Starro. While the villain has been formidable in the comics, he’s never been adapted for the big screen. The selection of Starro might’ve been questionable to some. Now Gunn has finally explained why he chose the DC supervillain to be the big villain in the upcoming film.
When it comes to DC supervillains, there are more prominent foes The Suicide Squad could face. Some doubted James Gunn’s pick of Starro. But during a virtual roundtable attended by CinemaBlend, Gunn finally opened up about picking him for the Warner Bros. film. The Suicide Squad director gave some insight into picking the alien as the film’s big bad.
I just, I wanted a major DC villain that is a major DC villain that people wouldn't expect to be in a movie. And I've always loved Starro. I mean, as a kid, I found Starro completely terrifying. The idea of this giant starfish with one big guy that shoots these things out of him that take over people's brains, like those old pictures with Superman with him on his face. Always scared the shit out of me. So, it was about taking something that was completely, mind you, ridiculous, that looks, putting him in a setting that is the gritty streets of Cologne, Panama, and then allowing him to do his scary business, but he's also completely outrageous. And so, that mix of things appealed to my aesthetic.
James Gunn’s breakdown of Starro proved why the villain makes the perfect adversary for The Suicide Squad. The DC supervillain’s mix of badassery and outlandishness matches the crew’s demeanor and energy completely. Just imagine the antiheroes fighting against a giant starfish that can control their minds by shooting out more starfish. As Gunn mentioned, having an outrageous character in a gritty setting speaks to the madcap nature of Suicide Squad. But this isn’t the first Starro adaptation viewers have witnessed.
The Suicide Squad will be available on HBO Max at the same time as theaters. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.
Starro’s big-screen debut wouldn’t be the first time the DC supervillain has appeared outside the comics. The villain popped in an episode of the short-lived DC sitcom Powerless on NBC. The character has appeared in various DCAU television series and films over the decades, including Young Justice and Teen Titans Go!
It’ll be great to see how James Gunn’s vision will benefit the Silver Age DC villain within the larger culture. The director’s vision is already having an impact on the DCEU courtesy of the Peacemaker spinoff. The film seemed to be a blessing for Gunn after the whole Marvel situation. If you want to see Starro terrorize the antihero task force, you can catch The Suicide Squad when it arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on July 30.
