ARROW Writer Discusses Influence Of SUICIDE SQUAD Movie And The Now Unlikely Spin-Off Series

The Suicide Squad made its debut on Arrow last season in the episode appropriately titled “Suicide Squad.” The initial lineup consisted of Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Shrapnel (RIP), John Diggle and Lyla Michaels. Harley Quinn made a cameo in the episode as well. In the series’ current season, Cupid was added to the team, while Captain Boomerang was a former member of Task Force X. The Squad’s well received introduction made many fans hope that a spin-off television series would be produced, but that has died down with the announcement of Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad film, which is set in the DC Cinematic Universe.

Speaking with MTV, Arrow writer Keto Shimizu – who is writing a two-part Suicide Squad arc in the tie-in comic book Arrow: Season 2.5 – is asked about the influence of the upcoming movie, which stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto. While the film’s existence does affect how Arrow‘s version will be approached, the two incarnations will be very different. “There’s certainly a lot happening in the film world on the Suicide Squad,” says Shimizu, “and we’re all excited to see what they’re going to do with these characters we all love, and see their interpretation come to life. Obviously, DC, they’d rather not have multiple versions of their characters happening in film and TV. Certainly that affects what we’re allowed to do in regards to Suicide Squad. But at the same time we exist in a totally different universe, and our characters are going to be very different from their version of the characters. We’re just trying to tell the best story we can with the people we’ve already established, and to make the best version of it that we’re allowed to do.” He also reaffirms that the Squad will be featured in season three.

As for that rumored Arrow television spin-off show starring the Suicide Squad, Shimizu says that it is now unlikely. “…as heartbreaking as that is, and as much a lot of us would like to see a Suicide Squad TV show exist, in light of what’s happening in the film world, it doesn’t seem like it’s a possibility.” Warner Bros./DC has been adamant on keeping its film and television worlds separate, all the way down to which characters can and cannot be used by the latter. However, there have been some exceptions, most notably the fact that a Flash movie was announced right when the CW series made its premiere.