James Gunn introduced a new Suicide Squad team in 2021, but the DC Universe reboot creates confusion about what the future holds for the characters.
SUMMARY
- The future of James Gunn's Suicide Squad characters in the DCU reboot remains unresolved, as the franchise relaunches in 2025 with new projects and characters being announced.
- However, there are indications that some of the Suicide Squad characters, such as Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, and King Shark, could potentially survive the reboot and continue in future DC Universe movies and shows.
- While a direct sequel to The Suicide Squad is unlikely to happen, the characters could make appearances in other projects like the Waller TV series or Peacemaker season 2, as well as potential crossovers with films like The Authority or Superman: Legacy.
The DC Universe reboot has created plenty of questions about the future, and the status of the Suicide Squad team and characters James Gunn introduced in 2021 remains unresolved. After the negative critical response to Suicide Squad and Warner Bros. changing David Ayer's original cut, Gunn took the franchise in a new direction with The Suicide Squad. Using only a few of the characters from the first movie, The Suicide Squad was a critical hit and helped launch more projects for DC. That is why their futures seemed assured once James Gunn and Peter Safran were put in charge of DC Studios.
Instead of continuing the previous continuity of the DC Extended Universe, Gunn and Safran have announced that a nearly full-on DC reboot is coming. This included confirming the first part of the new DC Universe slate and teasing how existing projects and characters could continue on after The Flash's multiverse story allowed for a canon reset. These plans unsurprisingly included major DC heroes like Superman and Batman being revamped, but what is happening next for most of The Suicide Squad's characters largely remains unresolved. The lingering mysteries have left questions about how or if the Suicide Squad have a future in the DCU reboot.
The Suicide Squad Characters Were Not Part Of DC Universe Announcements
James Gunn and Peter Safran's decision to largely reboot the DC Universe came after their collaboration on The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1 as part of the DCEU. Despite their characters popping up in additional projects that helped set up Shazam and the Suicide Squad interacting and even Superman and Black Adam meeting, they pulled the plug on these plans after taking control of DC Studios. The decision was made to cancel Black Adam 2, Wonder Woman 3, and a variety of other projects in favor of a DC Universe reboot. This allows them to reset the canon, recast characters, and avoid previous franchise baggage.
Chapter 1 of the DCU was officially announced in early 2023, but the Suicide Squad characters were almost completely absent from the reboot discussion. The franchise officially relaunches in July 2025 with Superman: Legacy, a reboot directed by James Gunn, starring David Corenswet as Superman, and featuring everyone from Lois Lane to Mister Terrific to Hawkgirl. The other confirmed DC Universe movies include The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing. There were also announcements for five DC Universe shows: Creature Commandos, Waller, Lanterns, Booster Gold, and Paradise Lost.
The DC Universe slate unveiling confirmed that characters like Batman, Superman, Supergirl, Swamp Thing, Booster Gold, Green Lantern, and more have a place in the rebooted timeline. However, Gunn and Safran also teased the potential returns of Jason Momoa's Aquaman, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller's Flash, and Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle. Despite Gunn's association with The Suicide Squad, the futures of Harley Quinn, Ratcatcher 2, Bloodsport, King Shark, and other main characters were not discussed. It left the future of the Suicide Squad in the DCU reboot up in the air, and it only got more confusing after Shazam! Fury of the Gods' post-credits scene tease.
James Gunn’s Suicide Squad Characters Could Survive The Reboot
There is reason to believe that James Gunn's The Suicide Squad characters will survive the DC Universe reboot. This is because Gunn has already confirmed that characters from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker will continue on. Viola Davis is officially returning as Amanda Waller in the Waller TV series that was set up through Peacemaker's ending. It is also confirmed that John Cena will reprise his role as Christopher Smith in Peacemaker season 2. Gunn has also alluded to Jennifer Holland's Emilia Harcourt, Steve Agee's John Economos, and Freddie Stroma's Vigilante returning after the DCU reboot takes effect. Weasel also returns in Creature Commandos.
The growing number of Suicide Squad characters James Gunn has already confirmed as DC Universe canon characters is a good sign that more will return too. Before becoming co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn was quite vocal about wanting to do more with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. Her status as a fan-favorite casting likely means that she will be another The Suicide Squad character to survive the reboot. This would open the door for Idris Elba's Bloodsport, Daniela Melchior's Ratcatcher 2, or even Sylvester Stallone's King Shark to return. Even if The Suicide Squad is not considered DCU canon, Gunn bringing back these characters is possible.
DC Universe Movies & Shows Suicide Squad Characters Could Return In
The Suicide Squad's DCU reboot future might not be confirmed yet, but there are some movies and shows that they could return in. The two most likely places where other The Suicide Squad characters could return are Waller or Peacemaker season 2. Both TV shows already star one or multiple characters associated with the 2021 R-rated superhero movie. It would be fairly simple for either series to find narrative ways to bring them into the fold. This could include them going after Waller in her series or hunting down Peacemaker after learning he is alive. Weasel's role in Creature Commandos could also open the door for others to return.
Several DC Universe movies could include various The Suicide Squad characters. The Authority will dive into the anti-hero side of the DCU by focusing on characters who are willing to break the rules a bit to get justice. That mindset largely aligns with the Suicide Squad team, so their appearance in The Authority on some level would make sense. The DCU reboot could also allow Bloodsport and Superman to cross paths in Superman: Legacy or put Harley Quinn and Batman at odds in The Brave and the Bold. Both of those options could help pay off previous teases and dynamics the previous universe failed to properly explore.
Will The Suicide Squad 2 Ever Happen?
The DCU reboot might not include The Suicide Squad 2 even if more of the characters return in the new canon. James Gunn bluntly and concisely debunked the idea that The Suicide Squad 2 will happen during an appearance on Michael Rosenbaum's podcast Inside of You in 2023, as he just said "No" when asked if a sequel movie to The Suicide Squad was going to be made. This is not terribly surprising considering how busy James Gunn is making Superman: Legacy and working on a majority of the other announced DC Universe movies and shows. He does not have time to make another Suicide Squad movie right now.
There are no plans for The Suicide Squad 2 in the DCU reboot immediately or in the future. The DC villain team has proven to be a popular concept for the studio, but Gunn and Safran have shown no signs of wanting to bring them back to the big screen to headline another movie. Those wanting to see the Suicide Squad characters in the DCU reboot should prepare for them to pop up in various projects instead of a true sequel. If the plan ever does change and the Suicide Squad team returns for The Suicide Squad 2, it should be expected that a different director would helm the movie.
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