Fans at Comic-Con were the first to get a glimpse at Suicide Squad, the upcoming silver screen adaption from the DC Universe. They heard from the cast, director David Ayer and got an exclusive look at a three-minute trailer.
And once a leaked version of the trailer was shortly released after the SDCC screening, Ayer said “screw it” and released the actual clip to the public.
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But what is the story behind this elite group of supervillains? Slated for an August 2016 release, the film bands together baddies from critically different backgrounds as they embark on a mission to save society.
Unlike most superhero stories, with one hero and one villain, there's a lot more going on with Suicide Squad. So while we have time to wait, let's get to know the Squad:
The Squad was originally debuted in 1959 with DC Comics’ The Brave and the Bold #25. As incarcerated supervillains, the members of Suicide Squad were enlisted by the US government to handle covert operations in return for their release from prison.
And because the operation was hush-hush, the government had an excuse if anything went wrong, saving face by claiming that they were just escaped criminals running amok.
But since the Squad’s existence was top-secret, they were targeted and attacked by the likes of Lois Lane and Batman (who is seen in the trailer).
Now let’s meet the members:
“Deadshot” played by Will Smith
Known as DC Universe's top marksman, Deadshot is impeccable with firearms. In fact, the only time he's been known to miss a shot was while firing on Batman (an event quite possibly featured in Ayer's Suicide Squad). The most defining characteristic in Deadshot's personality is his unfaltering death wish—he willingly welcomes death and he hopes to die in a spectacular tragedy.
“Harley Quinn” played by Margot Robbie
While a practicing psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel met The Joker only to fall in love with him and follow him into a world of maniacal delinquency. With a thick New York accent, she's been featured as a frequent accomplice and girlfriend to The Joker. Her specialties include manipulation (from her psychiatry background) and the use of toxic weaponry. But the trailer to the film shows Robbie's portrayal of the villain hanging from ropes Cirque du Soleil style and wielding a baseball bat.
“The Joker” played by Jared Leto
Audiences were simultaneously frightened and engrossed by Heath Ledger's portrayal of the psychopathic supervillain in 2008's The Dark Knight. His sadistic sense of humor and creepy clown appearance made it hard to look away. But where did he come from? As an unreliable narrator, The Joker himself has created various personal backstories. He's claimed his deformed facial features are the result of his drunken father taking a knife to him as a boy and/or an incident where he fell into a vat of chemical waste. But The Joker's mystery and unreliability just adds to his sinister appeal.
“Rick Flag” played by Joel Kinnaman
As a military expert, Rick Flag is credited as being the pseudo-leader of the Suicide Squad, though the film's trailer seems to appoint that role to Smith's Deadshot. Out of all the Squad's members, Flag possesses the most basic brute force abilities. He's a military mastermind and an expert in both armed and unarmed combat. Before Swedish-born Kinnaman was offered the role, Flag was set to be played by Tom Hardy. But Hardy had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with his upcoming role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant.
“Enchantress” played by Cara Delevingne
Freelance artist June Moore was given supernatural powers when she got called upon by an unknown magical being during a costume party in an old castle. She then takes the form of Enchantress and has the ability to teleport, move inanimate objects with her mind and walk through walls. The first Suicide Squad trailer sees Enchantress brooding while laying a grave full of dark liquid with the satanic pentagram scrawled behind her.
“Boomerang” played by Jai Courtney
Growing up in Australia and manifesting deadly skills with the native boomerang, George Harkness was born a bastard to an American G.I. and a local Aussie woman. Like many Squad members, Boomerang is manipulative and cold-hearted. In one comic, he convinces team member Slipknot (played by Adam Beach in the coming film) to run away just to see if the explosive wristbands the task force is required to wear actually work when one tries to flee. Unfortunately for SlipKnot, the bracelet did in fact work.
“Killer Croc” played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Similar to Fantastic Four's The Thing, Killer Croc bears a physical mutation creating a hardened, nearly impenetrable skin. But instead of an experiment gone awry, Croc was genetically mutated from birth, giving him traits of ancestral species of the human race such as reptiles. Consequently, he has heightened physical abilities like speed, endurance and strength—making him able to lift up to 20 tons.
“Katana” played by Karen Fukuhara
An expert of martial arts, Katana is most adept with a samurai sword. She's fought alongside Batman and the Outsiders, a group of superheroes in the DC Universe who did not fit the norms of the mainstream crime-fighting community like the Justice League. Her sword is said to be bewitched and forces its user to commit evil acts. Also, the sword is said to take the souls of those it kills, allowing communication between the deceased and whoever wields the blade.
“El Diablo” played by Jay Hernandez
A name shared by several characters in the DC Universe, El Diablo currently refers to pyromaniac gang member Chato Santana. After setting fire to a building full of innocent people, Santana was sent to death row. He originally didn't know who was in the building; when he found out women and children died in the blaze, he willingly turned himself in. From there, he was inducted into the Suicide Squad for his expert pyrotechnics. El Diablo is typically seen with excessive tattoos including on his face.
“Slipknot” played by Adam Beach
As a chemist working for a large corporation, Christopher Weiss develops a formula for unbreakable ropes. After witnessing the power of his creation, Weiss leaves a life of normalcy and enters the world of crime. He's a master with the ropes, using them in cahoots with his assassin training. As mentioned before, Boomerang (played by Jai Courtney) convinces Slipknot to test the explosive bracelets the Squad is required to wear, preventing them from escape. To Slipknot's dismay, the bracelet bombs do, in fact, what they were made to do.
Other additions to David Ayer’s Suicide Squad in so-far unidentified roles include Scott Eastwood, Common, Ike Barinholtz, Jim Parrack, Alex Meraz and Raymond Olubowale
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