DC fans have been enjoying a slew of good news lately, with accomplishments like the aggressively acquired "Snyder Cut" of Justice League as well as the official confirmation that Michael Keaton will play Batman once again in the upcoming movie The Flash. Now, James Gunn has entered the fray to continue that streak, as he gleefully revealed that his sort of sequel, sort of reboot The Suicide Squad has completed filming long ahead of its release date.
The director gave the news on Twitter as almost a footnote to a post promoting the film's cover story in an issue of Den of Geek magazine, adding the announcement right at the end of the tweet. "By the way - we completely finished the movie this week, VFX and all," he said. "Can't wait for you all to see it." The highly anticipated R-rated follow-up has been the object of many fans' curiosities ever since Gunn began teasing The Suicide Squad's eclectic cast last year, so hearing that it's already finished likely came as a pleasant surprise to many excited potential viewers.
The post kicked off a short thread where Gunn answered some fan questions about The Suicide Squad's production, beginning with a query about how common it is to complete production so long before a movie's release. He answered the question, admitting that it's unusual to be done this soon, but adding that he also had planned to be finished by this point. Plus, as if the efficient schedule wasn't enough, Gunn humbly boasted that The Suicide Squad didn't require any reshoots, which he said is a rare occurrence, especially for high-profile superhero films.
As an extension of the previous statement regarding reshoots, Gunn also answered a question concerning whether The Suicide Squad would be his "cut" or if there was any executive meddling, similar to the drama surrounding Zack Snyder's Justice League. "Yes," he said proudly, "the movie is mine from start to finish." So fans can rest easy knowing there's no need to bully the employees of Warner Bros. with a #ReleaseTheGunnCut campaign. Though, to be fair, it sounds like something Gunn would do on his own during his free time regardless of what the fans fight for.
Gunn's The Suicide Squad marks a trend by the DC Extended Universe towards more humor and being a bit less gritty drama than it seemed to be eyeing during the years of Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. That's not to say the film will be completely light-hearted and free of any heavy moments. After all, if even Shazam! can maintain a heartfelt connection to its characters in between all the wacky Zachary Levi-related superhero antics, then it proves that something like The Suicide Squad, with its hard R-rating and sense of humor, can find a perfect balance, especially under the guidance of a director like Gunn.
The Suicide Squad seems to attract headlines every time something happens regarding its production, which might mean things will go quiet for a little while in the lead up to its release. But hopefully Gunn and his team will have plenty in store to whet the appetites of fans before this comedy gore-fest hits the big screen.
The Suicide Squad will release on August 6th, 2021.
Source: James Gunn/Twitter