Suicide Squad gets another heavy-hitter added to its cast as the twice Academy Award nominated Viola Davis in the role of Amanda Waller. In the comics, Waller is the head of the secret government program that forces supervillains to perform covert missions from which they may not return. Previously, Oprah Winfrey and Octavia Spencer were reported as two actresses that studio Warner Brothers were interested in casting in the role.
Davis joins an all-star cast which includes Tom Hardy as Rick Flag, Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Cara Delevinge as Enchantress and Jared Leto as The Joker.
The character previously appeared in 2011’s ill-received Green Lantern movie, played by Angela Bassett, and her appearance there was thought to be a building block for a shared DC Comics cinematic universe. While Suicide Squad is one of the first installments in Warners’ current attempt at constructing something similar to what Marvel Studios is doing with their comic book properties, it is not clear if Viola is only signed on for this film or if she has been contracted for multiple film appearances.
Production on Suicide Squad is set for April, with Viola presumably reporting for work after she wraps the first season over her new television series How To Get Away With Murder. It hits theaters on August 5, 2016.
