James Gunn in talks to direct Suicide Squad 2, give franchise his own spin

It didn’t take long for James Gunn to find a new, comics-inspired film to bring to the screen. TheGuardians of the Galaxyfilmmaker is reportedly in talks to direct a reimagining of the 2016 filmSuicide Squad.

Gunn is currently in negotiations to helm theThe Suicide Squad,which is now scheduled to hit theaters June 16, 2025 — here’severything else we know so far. He was already working on theSuicide Squadsequel as the project’s screenwriter, and if talks progress as expected, this will be his first directorial feature since 2017’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

The Suicide Squadisn’t expected to be a direct sequel to its 2016 predecessor, according toThe Hollywood Reporter, and will instead serve as a soft relaunch of the franchise under Gunn’s direction. He’s expected to “take the franchise in a new direction” and bring in a “mostly all-new cast of characters and actors.”

Gunn wasterminated from his contract with Marvelin July 2018 due to a campaign initiated by alt-right pundits who unearthed offensive messages he posted on Twitter nearly a decade earlier (and had previously apologized for). Disney and Marvel quickly made the controversial decision to end their professional relationship with Gunn despite his public apology, only to have the entire cast of theGuardians of the Galaxyfilms — as well as many other prominent actors and filmmakers — voice their support for him. What will happen toGuardians of the Galaxy 3?

Several months later,WB brought in Gunnto work on the script for the sequel toSuicide Squad— initially titledSuicide Squad 2— and bring his trademark blend of comedy and action to the project.

DC Comics’ Suicide Squad has traditionally followed a group of villains who are given a chance at freedom if they are able to pull off a seemingly impossible mission for a secret government agency. The 2016 film featured the DC characters Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Joker, Captain Boomerang, Diablo, Enchantress, Katana, Rick Flagg, Slipknot, and Killer Croc, with Will Smith and Margot Robbie portraying Deadshot and Harley Quinn, respectively. The film also introduced Jared Leto as the new Joker.

It’s unknown which, if any, characters will return from the 2016 film. Robbie recently reprised her role as Harley Quinn in the first teaser for the upcomingBirds of Preymovie, which will follow a group of female DC Comics characters.

Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder will serve as executive producers onThe Suicide Squad.