Will Smith Reportedly Exits ‘Suicide Squad’ Sequel
Written by SOURCE on February 28, 2019
It seems Suicide Squad 2 has lost some serious star power.
Deadline confirms Will Smith has decided not to reprise his role as Deadshot, the de facto leader of the titular comic book team. Though the 50-year-old actor had not officially signed on to appear in the sequel, sources told Deadline that his exit from the DCEU was amicable and that decision came down to scheduling conflicts.
Smith starred in the 2016 original installment alongside Jared Leto, Viola Davis, Jay Hernandez, and Margot Robbie. The David Ayer-directed film was panned by critics but managed to rake in $746 million at the global box office. The commercial success pretty much secured a sequel as well as a Harley Quinn spin-off starring Robbie.
While celebrating his 50th birthday back in September, Smith took the time to answer a few fan-submitted questions online. When asked about the possibility of a Deadshot standalone project, the actor confirmed it was being discussed.
“I hope so. I love playing Deadshot, I’ve really enjoyed that character,” he said. “They’ve been talking about it, so if a good idea comes around… we’ve been having meetings. But I’d love to. I love Deadshot.”
Maybe his departure from the DCEU isn’t permanent.
Additional casting details for Suicide Squad 2 have not been confirmed. After parting ways with Disney last summer, James Gunn signed on to write and direct the project, which is scheduled to hit theaters Aug. 6, 2021.
