Everything You Need To Know About The Suicide Squad

Is it a reboot? A sequel? Who's part of the supervillain lineup? We answer all your questions

The Suicide Squad, the 10th film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), releases on BookMyShow Stream on September 23. Based on writer John Ostrander's DC comic book series, it follows a group of incarcerated supervillains coerced into carrying out dangerous missions on behalf of the US government. The film has been written and directed by James Gunn, best known for his two Marvel Cinematic Universe Guardians of the Galaxy movies, which makes him the first director to have helmed films for both the rival comic book studios. Ahead of its release, here's everything you need to know about the movie:

Also Read: The Suicide Squad Is A Delightfully Gory, Entertaining Antihero Caper

Wait, wasn't there another Suicide Squad movie?

Yes. In 2016, writer-director David Ayer released Suicide Squad, which followed the same basic premise but featured a (mostly) different pantheon of supervillains, including expert marksman Deadshot (Will Smith), super strong reptile Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), an archaeologist possessed by a powerful sorceress. While the film was a commercial success and the first DCEU installment to win an Academy Award (for Best Makeup and Hairstyling), it was criticised for its choppy plot and poorly written characters. Since then, Ayer has distanced himself from the theatrical cut of his film, saying that his director's cut differs greatly and that studio interference led to his intended "soulful drama" being edited into a "comedy".

So the new Suicide Squad is a reboot? Or is it a sequel?

Neither. While several characters from the 2016 film reprise their roles in this one, including mission director Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), US Army Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), marksman Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and skilled combatant Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and reference their past relationships, they don't explicitly acknowledge the 2016 film. "We really wanted to make sure that this stands on its own two feet," The Suicide Squad producer Peter Safran told Collider. "It's not a sequel, but there are some characters that were in the first movie, right? So it's not really a full reboot either. So we just call it James Gunn's The Suicide Squad."

Who are the new team members?

There's expert marksman Bloodsport (Idris Elba), imprisoned after he shot Superman with a Kryptonite bullet, certified genius Savant (Michael Rooker), alien conqueror Mongal (Mayling Ng), Olympic athlete Javelin (Flula Borg), clairvoyant The Thinker (Peter Capaldi) and The Detachable Kid or TDK (Nathan Fillion), whose limbs can operate independently of his body. Daniela Melchior plays Ratcatcher 2, whose father, the original Ratcatcher, taught her to control rodents. Rounding off the squad are Peacemaker (John Cena), described as a "douchey Captain America", Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), who spews exploding polka dots as the result of genetic experimentation, and skilled combatant Blackguard (Pete Davidson). They're joined by King Shark, a giant humanoid shark voiced by Sylvester Stallone, and Weasel, an anthropomorphic weasel played by Sean Gunn.