DC taps James Gunn to write and possibly direct Suicide Squad 2

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

As part of a surprise development, Warner Bros. and DC have hired GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and SLITHER director James Gunn to write SUICIDE SQUAD 2 with an opportunity to also direct the highly-anticipated sequel. The gig with DC marks the first time that Gunn has been tapped for a project since the filmmaker was unceremoniously ousted from Disney's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY franchise due to a series of controversial tweets unearthed by alt-right journalists.

For quite some time, the studio had director Gavin O’Connor (THE ACCOUNTANT, PRIDE AND GLORY) attached to the follow up of David Ayer's 2016 villain-centric action adventure fantasy, though it appears as if O'Connor is now fully invested in bringing the Brad Ingelsby-scripted drama TORRANCE starring Ben Affleck to the big screen. Word on the street is that Warners has been keeping a close eye on Gunn for the job since the moment that his firing from the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY franchise was made public. Eager to scoop him up as soon as his exit was signed, sealed, and delivered, it appears that Gunn will now be lending his talents to the other half of the Big Two.

Shortly after news of Gunn's departure from the Guardians franchise broke, the now-controversial filmmaker issued a statement with regard to his online actions that had occured several years prior to Disney asking him to construct the journey of Marvel's favorite space-faring a-holes. You can read Gunn's statement below:

“My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time. Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then. All I can do now, beyond offering my sincere and heartfelt regret, is to be the best human being I can be: accepting, understanding, committed to equality, and far more thoughtful about my public statements and my obligations to our public discourse. To everyone inside my industry and beyond, I again offer my deepest apologies. Love to all.”

With Gunn on board, the filmmaker is expected to deliver a completely new take on DC's ragtag group of ne'er do wells, as they continue to fight for their lives while working for Amanda Waller, a ruthless strategist who uses the comic company's "worst of the worst" to carry out dangerous missions that other outfits are otherwise too green to handle on their own.

What are your thoughts about DC hiring Gunn for the SUICIDE SQUAD sequel? Are you eager to see what he can bring to the franchise, or do you think the project would have been better suited for someone else? Let us know in the comments section below.