Idris Elba to Replace Will Smith as Deadshot in James Gunn's THE SUICIDE SQUAD

THE SUICIDE SQUAD writer and director James Gunn is making an actor change to its roster. According to THR, Will Smith is out as Deadshot while Idris Elba is replacing him and joining Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn to lead the sequel-that-is-also-a-soft-reboot. THR writes:

"Sources say that Elba met with Gunn on Friday and it went so swimmingly that talks began with the studio in earnest. Elba was the first and only choice for Gunn and the studio.

"Warners is extremely high on The Suicide Squad and its script, written by Gunn, so much so that the project is barrelling forward into the casting stage after Gunn quickly turned out several drafts. Before his boarding, the project ambled for a couple of years with a revolving door of writers and directors.

"Gunn is said to be using mostly DC characters who did not appear in David Ayer's 2016 film although several are expected to return including Deadshot, Harley Quinn and Rick Flagg, originally played by Joel Kinnaman, say sources. Another source, however, says Flagg is no longer in the follow-up."

Elba has most recently worked in the comic book movie genre as Heimdall in Marvel Studios' THOR and AVENGERS franchises.

THE SUICIDE SQUAD releases in the U.S. on August 6, 2021.

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