The Suicide Squad are Getting (and Trying for) One Last Hurrah

Things have been a bit weird for the Suicide Squad in the past decade. After their 2016 film came out to a tepid response, later projects with the antihero team have been erratic. James Gunn’s 2021 movie has been generally regarded as pretty good, and that anime from earlier this year seemed fine. But DCEU fans have been hoping for director David Ayer’s original vision to see the light of day with an “Ayer Cut,” while over in video games, Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been one of the year’s biggest misfires.

Somehow, both the game and 2016 film ended up back in the spotlight again this week. First up, Rocksteady finally confirmed Deathstroke will join the Squad roster this Tuesday, December 10. The DC assassin will be the game’s fourth post-launch character, following Joker, Mrs. Freeze, and Deadshot’s daughter Lawless, and it’s a question if more will join them. Over the summer, WB Games told IGN Rocksteady would see Suicide Squad’s roadmap of Year 1 content through, but danced around anything afterwards. The game’s development troubles and underperformance has been fairly well documented, and it’s also been said that Rocksteady’s aiming to make single-player games again, so Slade may be the final baddie to join Squad’s short lineup of antiheroes.

Deathstroke will be the next playable character in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, launching on December 10. #SuicideSquadGame pic.twitter.com/8O0u98jVGs

— Batman Arkham Videos (@ArkhamVideos) December 6, 2024

As for the movie, Ayer recently reiterated his hope for his original Suicide Squad to be released to the public. He told his fans on X how much he appreciates “the continued support and interest,” and that its best version “simply has not been seen. If you dislike [the theatrical cut], here’s an opportunity to see what I actually intended and then judge once you have all the information.” He admitted the chances of it releasing are out of his hands and entirely up to WB and James Gunn. Still, he argued that it should be seen, mainly on the basis that it’d be “a lot of fun” for fans of his work that still feel slighted by what played in theaters.

“If it happens cool. If it doesn’t cool. It’s just not that deep,” he concluded in a reply. “I think you deserve to see it and judge it then. If it’s not for you, all good.”

I hope my real film can be shared one day. I appreciate the continued support and interest.

#ReleaseTheAyerCut pic.twitter.com/sXqSSuijJo

— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) December 5, 2024

Currently, it’s unknown what future the Suicide Squad has as a brand, and DC isn’t even currently running a new comic for the team. They’ll likely still get some attention, but the team makeup of Harley, Boomerang, King Shark, and Deadshot that got popularized with the New 52 and 2016 movie is probably done for now. It’s only a matter of time before we see who headlines the group next, and what weird missions they get caught up in.

[via The Hollywood Reporter]

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.