Guardians of the Galaxy and Days of Thunder actor Michael Rooker responded to reports he would be playing King Shark in James Gunn’s upcoming The Suicide Squad reboot.
A recent report indicated Rooker was all but confirmed to take on the role of King Shark. However, no sooner than the report broke, and it appears it might have just been rumor.
Michael Rooker went on social media to deny the report as a rumor.
Sharing a link to TheWrap’s initial report on his official Facebook page, Rooker emphatically wrote, “No. This is NOT true.”
In case the message didn’t get through to the rest of social media, he reiterated his point on Instagram, saying “DA………..NOT!!!” He added, “This is not true news… I am not cast in this movie……” You don’t get much clearer than that.
Honestly, this news straight from the source to the contrary is even more of a surprise than the report he was playing King Shark, and quite disappointing as well.
TheWrap got ahead of themselves by leading with a rumor as official reportage, but as closely and as often as James Gunn and Rooker work together, it sounded like an airtight no-brainer. And it’s possible Rooker could still appear, just in a smaller role. However, earlier this month James Gunn confirmed he had found the cast for all the members of his new Suicide Squad. It’s possible, Rooker could still join the cast, but he might not be part of the Suicide Squad. But, in all honesty those chances seem slim.
That’s a real bummer; King Shark is a big deal and deserves the best, most reliable actor to play him right. The Suicide Squad will most likely be his first big-screen appearance in live action. Nepotism wouldn’t be the only thing nabbing a part like that for Rooker, someone that’s been a cult figure in Hollywood for a long time.
Regardless of any changes in his scheduling vis-a-vis Suicide Squad, Michael Rooker’s next film out this year is Bolden, a drama based on the life of “the first Cornet King of New Orleans,” Buddy Bolden.
Shooting for an August 2021 release, The Suicide Squad shall assemble for principal photography later on this year. Directed and written by Gunn, the film is reported to include stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Joel Kinnaman, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher, and Viola Davis (plus whoever winds up being King Shark).
Gunn is expected to take story cues from John Ostrander’s run, of which he is a devoted fan.