August 5, 2021 finally saw the global, worldwide release of James Gunn’s long-anticipated The Suicide Squad. The movie was released in theaters around the world, with a simultaneous streaming release on HBO Max in those countries where the streaming platform is available. James Gunn, best known for his work on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, took on the directing of the Suicide Squad sequel, but actually made a sort of soft reboot/standalone sequel that is set within the larger DCEU, but is only vaguely connected to David Ayer’s original movie.
Although some characters have returned, The Suicide Squad brings us a completely new team with new actors appearing in the movie. We see Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller) and Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang) return in their roles, with new faces including Idris Elba (Bloodsport), John Cena (Peacemaker), David Dastmalchian (Polka-Dot Man), Peter Capaldi (The Thinker), Cleo Cazo (Ratcatcher 2), and Sylvester Stallone (the voice of King Shark). Other characters and actors also appear, but this rounds up the main cast.
As for the movie’s plot, Metacritic summed it up like this: “Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.”
With fans and critics both pleased, we have no doubts that Gunn’s beautifully mad movie is going to be another hit for the DCEU, which is why we advise you to check it out in your local theater or via HBO Max.