Director James Gunn is known for being very open and honest with his fans on social media, and he recently spent some time talking about The Suicide Squad, his upcoming DC Comics movie. It’s a reimagining of David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, which came out in 2016 to mixed reviews.
Gunn is a well known and much-beloved figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after helming Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel. The Suicide Squad has a similar theme with a story that follows a band of misfit criminals tasked with saving the world.
James Gunn talks The Suicide Squad: Influences, title and more
During a chat with fans, one Twitter user asked Gunn how The Suicide Squad is different than other projects he’s worked on. Gunn’s response was both tongue in cheek and very insightful: “100% more shark (and no holds barred in any way).”
The shark reference is, of course, a nod to King Shark, voiced in the movie by Steve Agee. King Shark is a member of the Suicide Squad in DC Comics lore and is very literally a living, breathing, walking and talking shark.
King Shark aside, Gunn’s comments about a “no holds barred” approach signal that Warner Bros. allowed him to do as he pleased with the film and never interfered with his vision for the rebooted franchise, as he explained in another tweet:
Warner Bros. is known to be protective of big name DC Comics characters like Batman, Superman and Harley Quinn. That Gunn was given the latitude he needed to bring his story together says a lot about how much trust they have in him and the story he’s telling.
Gunn wrote the script in addition to serving as the director. He wrangled a cast of over two dozen talented actors to appear in the movie, from Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn) to Peter Capaldi (The Thinker) to Michael Rooker (Savant) and well beyond.
The Suicide Squad arrives in theaters and HBO Max on August 6, 2021.
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h/t CBR