If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. DC’s upcoming sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad appears to be borrowing more than its director from Marvel. James Gunn previously signed on to direct, but he recently added one confirmed cast member and another rumored cast member to the project. It’s worth noting that both actors have ties to the MCU, one a bit more obvious than the other. According to Deadline, the confirmed actor is none other than longtime James Gunn collaborator Nathan Fillion. While he’ll definitely appear in the film, his role is being kept under wraps at the moment.
Now, you may wonder how Fillion has ties to the MCU. Well, it’s a bit of a jump, but it does count. In 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which Gunn directed, Fillion actually played a blue alien inmate. Don’t remember him? Well, he was hidden by a lot of CGI. I mean, A LOT of CGI. But that was him nonetheless, so it counts. Reportedly he also filmed a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 , but Gunn cut it in order to allow him to have a different and larger role in the MCU in the future. Fillion is perhaps best known as Mal Reynolds on Joss Whedon’s Firefly series. However, he’s also no stranger to DC, having voiced the Green Lantern on multiple occasions.
The next addition to the Suicide Squad cast has quite a record with Marvel, but it’s worth nothing that his involvement is only rumored. Taika Waititi, director of 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok may have a role in the upcoming film. According to Deadline, a table read is scheduled for mid September with production starting at the end of the month. If so, the actor, director, and screenwriter will certainly be keeping busy. October sees the release of Waititi’s satire Jojo Rabbit. After that, he returns to Marvel to direct Thor: Love and Thunder.
The Suicide Squad will also feature returning actors Viola Davis, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, and Joel Kinnamon. New cast members include Idris Elba, Daniela Melchior, and Steve Agee.
