SUICIDE SQUAD 2 May Shoot Next Year, Says Joel Kinnaman

After the (financial) success of Suicide Squad last year, Warner Bros. put a sequel into development, along with spinoff film Gotham City Sirens and maybe a Deadshot movie. The studio has been courting a number of directors to replace David Ayer, who is now doing Sirens. Mel Gibson is/was reportedly the frontrunner, while the shortlist also includes Ruben Fleischer (who was just hired to direct Sony’s Venom movie). The script is being written by The Legend of Tarzan‘s Adam Cozad.

Now, we have an idea of when the sequel begins shooting. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rick Flag actor Joel Kinnaman confirms that he is likely returning for Suicide Squad 2, and the plan is to begin production next year. “As far as I know they’re writing the script and I think the plan is to shoot it sometime in 2018, but that could change. I think I’ll definitely come back for it.” As for a director, Kinnaman hopes that Ayer will return, but if he doesn’t, he would want “…someone who is great with character and that’s able to ground the story and maybe put these characters in a more normal situation. It would be really interesting to see these crazy characters interact with regular people as well.”

If Suicide Squad 2 begins production next year, then it would presumably be released in 2019. Currently, WB has yet to solidify its DC slate for that year – Justice League 2 has been delayed, while there hasn’t been recent movement on Shazam beyond a director being in talks.

But Matt Reeves’ The Batman is expected to shoot in 2018 as well, while The Flash is currently trying to lock down a director. Could those films and Suicide Squad 2 make up the 2019 slate? There’s also many others DC movies in development, such as Batgirl, Justice League Dark, and Green Lantern Corps, that could be considered for that year. We’ll just have to wait and see.

For THR’s full interview with Kinnaman, where he discusses the new season of House of Cards, click HERE.

Stay tuned for more news as we have it.