James Gunn Explains Why the Joker Isn't in 'The Suicide Squad'

"I just don't know why Joker would be in the Suicide Squad. He wouldn't be helpful in that type of war situation."

BY Brock ThiessenPublished Jul 14, 2021

James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is absolutely loaded with stars, but one who will not be appearing in the film is Jared Leto as the Joker. If you were wondering why the villain has been skipped this time around, the director has now explained.

Speaking with the New York Times, Gunn discussed the Joker's glaring absence in his upcoming film, and he had a brutally simple reason as to just why Leto's character is being left out.

"I just don't know why Joker would be in the Suicide Squad. He wouldn't be helpful in that type of war situation," Gunn stated.

And you know what? He's probably right.

Gunn also spoke about David Ayer's 2016 film Suicide Squad, explaining why he's now making the franchise his own thing.

"I wanted to create what I thought of as the Suicide Squad," Gunn said. "For me to react to David's movie would make it the shadow of David's movie. I wanted it to be its own thing completely."

While The Suicide Squad will not feature Leto, it will include Idris Elba (Bloodsport), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Sylvester Stallone (King Shark), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flagg), Pete Davidson (Blackguard), John Cena (Peacemaker), Peter Capaldi (The Thinker), Sean Gunn (Weasel), Michael Rooker (Savant), Daniela Melchior (Ratcatcher 2), David Dastmalchian (Polka-Dot Man), Mayling Ng (Mongal) and Flula Borg (Javelin).

As previously reported, The Suicide Squad will premiere on August 4 at Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival. It will get its wide debut on August 6, when it will also arrive on HBO Max.

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