Two More Names In Consideration For SUICIDE SQUAD’s Rick Flagg; Joe Manganiello Up For Deathstroke?

With Tom Hardy no longer playing Rick Flagg and Jake Gyllenhaal passing, the Suicide Squad film is currently seeking a replacement for this role as it is approaching its April start date. Today, we have a juicy new rumor potentially revealing two actors who are in consideration for Flagg, while also claiming that a fan-favorite DC character will make his big screen debut in the David Ayer-directed film.

According to Cinema Blend, Jon Bernthal (who recently worked with Ayer on Fury) and Warrior‘s Joel Edgerton are being looked at to replace Hardy in the supervillain team-up. Bernthal was actually speculated to be involved with Suicide Squad a couple months ago, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see this casting happen. Meanwhile, Edgerton has been an actor many fans have suggested for a role in a comic book movie.

The site has offered more details in its report. Earlier today, Latino-Review’s El Mayimbe revealed he had heard that Oscar nominee Gary Sinise is in talks to join Suicide Squad as General Wade Eiling, who recently made his live action debut in The CW’s The Flash (where he was played by Clancy Brown). However, Mayimbe was unable to confirm the rumor and said that it should not be taken as truth just yet. Cinema Blend, however, has claimed that Sinise is in the film, but not as Eiling.

The site’s source also reveals that Joe Manganiello – who worked with Ayer on Sabotage – is in the running to play none other than Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke. “The Terminator” has become a fan-favorite character in the past decade or so, known for his appearances in Batman: Arkham Origins, Arrow and the Teen Titans animated series. However, this is the most substantial rumor we’ve heard of Wilson actually being in Suicide Squad. Manganiello was previously in contention for Superman in Man of Steel and Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but could he finally get his chance to join the DC Universe as Deathstroke?

But as this is unconfirmed at the moment, Cinema Blend says to take this info with a pinch of salt. Stay tuned for more news as we have it.

Suicide Squad is scheduled to hit theaters August 5th, 2016. The third installment in the DC Cinematic Universe stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne and Jared Leto. David Ayer writes and directs.