One of the many projects that Warner Brothers has in development for its DC Comics Extended Universe is a sequel to last summer’s Suicide Squad. The film was a dud with critics but the studio had such faith in its supervillains-forced-into-performing-black-ops-missions-for-the-government concept that they put a sequel into development five months before the first film hit theaters. And it looks as if the development of that follow up is moving along at a good pace.
Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Joel Kinnaman, who played Squad leader Rick Flagg, stated that he thinks that filming on the project could begin at some point next year.
As far as I know they’re writing the script and I think the plan is to shoot [Suicide Squad 2] sometime in 2018, but that could change. I think I’ll definitely come back for it.
Ultimately, I’d love for [original Suicide Squad helmer] David Ayer to direct it, but if he doesn’t want to direct it then someone who is great with character and that’s able to ground the story and maybe put these characters in a more normal situation. It would be really interesting to see these crazy characters interact with regular people as well.
Right now, there is no director attached to the project. Ayer is currently developing another DC Comics-based film for the studio, Gotham City Sirens. That film will feature Suicide Squad‘s Margot Robbie reprising her Harley Quinn character to lead a number of other female Batman villains in a caper. With Warners looking at a number of other candidates to helm Suicide Squad 2, including even Mel Gibson, it is unlikely that Ayer will return.
When Suicide Squad 2 will hit theaters is anyone’s guess right now. Warners has staked out eight dates over the next three years for installments in their DC Comics Extended Universe, but only two of them have actual films penciled in – November 17, 2017 for Justice League and December 21, 2018 for Aquaman. With Wonder Woman opening to a $100 million box office this past weekend, the studio will undoubtedly be fast tracking a sequel for that film. Director Patty Jenkins has already been signed for that follow up.
Films featuring The Flash and Batman are also a priority, but they have been having trouble nailing down creative teams for both projects. The studio is also developing a raft of other projects including films for the characters Batgirl, Shazam, Nightwing, Cyborg and Green Lantern as well as a sequel to 2013’s Man Of Steel.
Given that it was sixteen months from the beginning of principal photography for the first Suicide Squad to its release, the earliest we could see Suicide Squad 2 is on the April 5, 2019 date that the studio has staked out.
