Under normal circumstances, a blockbuster trailer reveal like that of The Suicide Squad would have been a fairly regular occurrence at this stage of the year.
However, with relatively nothing on offer for cinemas for more than a year, there has barely been even a whisper from the industry in terms of new content.
Yet there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel in terms of a response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the Hollywood lights have already begun to turn back on.
The Suicide Squad, the standalone sequel to 2016’s ‘Suicide Squad’, is not due for release until August this year, though we had our very first glimpse of the action on Friday.
At over three minutes in length, the trailer didn’t pull any punches. There were heavy doses of action and comedy, not to mention a return for several familiar faces from elsewhere within the DC Extended Universe.
But what did we learn from the debut The Suicide Squad trailer?
A James Gunn special
Though the director has since been reinstated by Marvel, his dismissal in July 2018 proved a blessing in disguise for DC and Warner Bros, who acted quickly to snap him up for their next comic-book project.
Gunn already has a vital grasp on the superhero genre thanks to his previous work on 2010’s ‘Super’, as well as both ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and The Suicide Squad is certain to bring a similar kind of oomph to the DC franchise.
Despite just minutes of footage, it is already clear to see that Gunn has tapped into the best parts of his previous superhero entries and created something far superior to the disappointingly-received ‘Suicide Squad’.
David Ayer’s film had its strengths, albeit hindered by studio interference, but comedy was not one of them. With Gunn at the helm, The Suicide Squad will easily be DC’s funniest picture yet.
The vital balance of comedy, action, emotion and heart will be something Gunn will no doubt provide here.
Starro
If you’d watched until the very end of the trailer, you’ll have noticed the appearance of a certain Kaiju – a term used to describe giant monsters like Godzilla, and the beastly antagonists of the ‘Pacific Rim’ movies.
There is still so much more that we could see of Starro, though we had our first glimpse of the villain and its considerable stature, which in itself is perhaps something that would not have been so quickly revealed.
Starro is essentially a giant alien starfish. That’s the kind of the bonkers addition we have come to expect of a James Gunn picture, so the character is no doubt in the right hands.
The character made its comics debut in 1960, where the alien became the very first villain to face the Justice League of America.
Sylvester Stallone
Earning a first look at the main villain is one thing, but we also learned the identity of Sylvester Stallone’s character.
Stallone was added to the cast much later than the likes of Idris Elba, John Cena, Margot Robbie and co. though his exact role was kept entirely under wraps until Friday’s trailer reveal.
We can confirm that Stallone is indeed the voice behind King Shark, a long-time favourite of DC comics fans. The Suicide Squad will be packed full of unusual characters, but the humanoid shark may well be the chief scene-stealer of the film.
In the trailer, we get to see King Shark devouring people and tearing them in half. I mean, what more do you want from an antihero shark?
R-rated content
The Suicide Squad was always trumping for that R-rating, and that has been all but confirmed with the trailer.
Elba’s Bloodsport drops an F-bomb early into the trailer, while talk of a ‘beach full of d*cks’, and the additional line ‘We got a freaking’ Kaiju up in this sh*t’ means that the movie won’t be toning down the foul-mouthed agenda.
Not to mention the fact that King Shark’s bone-crunching, torso-ripping, all-devouring presence calls for a violent, gory affair to complement the foul language. Bring it on.
Ayer’s Suicide Squad had dark undertones, but it wasn’t nearly as violent.
No coughing
Move with the times I guess.
As Rick Flag (played by Joel Kinnaman) and Task Force X interrogate Peter Capaldi’s highly-intelligent Thinker and attempt to bring him into line, Harley Quinn warns him against coughing without covering his mouth.
In line with Gunn’s comedic approach to The Suicide Squad, the fact that there are jokes about coughing and shielding is a ballsy move. It’s a blatant jibe at the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and it could fall flat; though I don’t think we should be all that concerned about the intentions.
Perhaps there are more modern day culture references hidden elsewhere?
Moving over the pond to the MCU, For Matt Farr’s latest The Falcon and The Winter Solider article, detail Warmachine James Wilson’s potential role in the series click here.