Improving on the Original

Suicide Squad was not a good film. It had some great characters and some great performances, but it was an otherwise bloated and messy affair. But Suicide Squad 2 is happening. Director Gavin O’Connor is already making some changes. First, there could be a major character making a surprise return from the first film. While that’s already a big change it would seem it’s just the first of many.

In a new interview with Yahoo! to promote his new Netflix series Altered Carbon, Joel Kinnaman, who plays Rick Flag, had a few things to say about the upcoming sequel.

It was a great set-up, great characters. I think when we do the second one I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a more grounded version of the film. The characters are so extreme it could be more effective if we saw less sorcery. I think the characters become more extreme if you see them in conjunction with real people.

It’s a very well-worded response. Instead of acknowledging the major faults of the first film he acknowledged its strengths. He makes a point of pointing out the details in the story that will be emphasized while only talking about one that won’t (sorcery). Considering the character he plays, Rick Flagg, is the de facto Captain of the team, he’d probably appreciate a more simplified enemy. The Enchantress was an… interesting choice as the antagonist for Suicide Squad. Pretty much everyone expected the character to be a part of the team, not its main enemy.

In the end, her presence is one of many problems of the film. In a story starring mostly Batman-villains, audiences were witness to giant magic monstrosities and gooey foot-soldiers. Kinnaman isn’t the only one excited about a more “grounded” approach. However, recent rumors indicate Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Black Adam might be the focus of the sequel.

Putting their Best Foot Forward

Suicide Squad made plenty of money and the marketing and overall design of the film was memorable and unique. So much so that it garnered an Academy Award for Make-Up and Hairstyling. Even a nomination is a big deal for a superhero film. Not only that, but fans are also clamoring for more appearances of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Thankfully, there were at least a few things to appreciate about the 2016 film.

But new DC Films President Walter Hamada still has his work cut out for him. Gavin O’Connor is a good director, but it doesn’t take one person to fix an entire franchise. And while the first film was successful, Suicide Squad 2 will need a lot of work to become something special.

But like Joel Kinnaman says, keeping the film more grounded sounds like the right place to start. The team does need to be ridiculous. It is a group of supervillains led by a Government Agent, after all. It’s a unique premise that should be explored further. Not to mention that the first film did leave more than a few loose-threads out there in the Universe. Considering one of the final scenes was the Joker freeing Harley Quinn, it would seem the team will have their work cut out for them in the upcoming film.

Warner Bros. and DC Films have yet to announce a release date for their upcoming film. But that’s a good thing. Major Hollywood blockbusters become tethered to release dates that force filmmakers to churn out poor quality films. Just look at Justice League. To put their best foot forward for Suicide Squad 2, DC and Warner Bros. need to make sure it’s a step in the right direction.