James Gunn Reveals He Was Free to Kill Any Character in The Suicide Squad — Even Amanda Waller

JB Augustine |

Oct 29, 2020

James Gunn is a noted horror director and, fair to say, familiar with the formula-breaking trope offered up in Psycho and Scream. The character you thought was the lead wound up killed off in the first act.

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He had the opportunity with The Suicide Squad to duplicate this legendary twist. The way he tells it to Empire in a new discussion, moreover, everyone was fair game.

And DC Entertainment was okay with that and encouraged Gunn. “You don’t know who’s going to live and who’s going to die,” he said. “I was given full freedom to kill anyone — and I mean anyone — by DC.”

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“Anyone” includes even Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who tries to stay out of the line of fire but occasionally finds herself in danger. That definitely raises the stakes which analysts routinely point out.

Up in the air as fates are, Harley Quinn is probably safe. She and Margot Robbie are franchise players with a lot riding on their futures. Expect Javelin, on a related note, to bite it, though; Harley is seen in set footage carrying his pole around without actor Flula Borg anywhere in sight.

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Gunn’s semi-sequel film is guaranteed to be different. Star Joel Kinnaman views it as a comedy while others vouch for the script’s levity. It will certainly go places David Ayer’s Suicide Squad didn’t.

But, before fans rain further wrath on the 2016 take, Gunn reminds us the final edit wasn’t Ayer’s vision. The entire movie “didn’t come out how David wanted it to come out,” Gunn said to Empire.

Ayer has made it clear a ton of material was left out. Lately, he’s gone full Zack Snyder, presenting evidence of his cut and answering questions. He also rides the wave of the growing “Release The Ayer Cut” movement inspired by HBO Max announcing Snyder will get to share his vision for Justice League.

Hopefully, The Ayer Cut will have its day but until then we can look forward to James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad hitting theaters next August, God and the COVID willing.