Mere hours after The Wrap stated that Viola Davis will reportedly return as Amanda Waller, Variety has learned that the upcoming DC sequel will be removing the Deadshot character from James Gunn's villain-centric venture, THE SUICIDE SQUAD. According to the outlet, all parties including director James Gunn have decided to move on from the Deadshot character, and will look to place Elba in a new role altogether.
Originally played by Will Smith in David Ayer's 2016 SUICIDE SQUAD, Deadshot is a hired assassin and the world's greatest marksman. Having been a super-villain and anti-hero, he'll commit any murder for the right price because of a notorious suicidal death wish. Despite this, he works very hard to protect his estranged ex-wife Susan Lawton and his daughter Zoe Lawton. He has been a member of Checkmate, the Killer Elite, the Secret Six and the Suicide Squad. (via DC Wiki)
Whle Warner Bros. has yet to comment on the character change, it's worth noting that removing Elba as the malevolent marksman allows for Smtih to return as the character, should DC need him for future installments of the franchise (or other DC-related projects). After all, Smith only excused himself from the project on account of scheduling conflicts, rather than some nasty breakup that would keep him from returning to the role.
For the moment, it would seem as if Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang are the only two characters returning for more adventures with DC's "worst of the worst." There's the prospect of Davis reprising her role as Amanda Waller as well, but like I'd said earlier, that casting has yet to be officially confirmed.
Production on James Gunn's THE SUICIDE SQUAD is expected to start in the fall, so there's still plenty of time for casting confirmations, story details, and other things of the like. With the film scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 6, 2021, one can only wonder what kind of surprises Gunn has up his sleeve for DC's motley crew of misfits.
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