Idris Elba Will Replace Will Smith in Suicide Squad 2

Philip Ellis

March 7, 2019 3:16 PM

Were getting a new Deadshot. After Will Smith confirmed he wouldnt be returning to the DCEU in Suicide Squad 2, Warner Bros has booked Idris Elba to play the character, Variety reports.

Idris Elba Replaces Will Smith in Suicide Squad 2

2016s Suicide Squad, which followed the misadventures of a rag-tag team of supervillains, was a box office smash, making more than $746 million worldwide. Little is known about the sequel so far, except that James Gunn will write and direct, having jumped ship from Marvel Studios. Margot Robbie is expected to return to the squad as Harley Quinn, as well as starring in the 2020 spinoff Birds of Prey.

Scheduling conflicts meant that Smith was unable to reprise the role of the assassin Deadshot; he is currently busy shooting Bad Boys For Life and then hes lined up to play Richard Williams, dad to Venus and Serena, in biopic King Richard. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Idris Elba was the first and only choice to replace Smith.

This wont be Elbas first foray into comic book movies. He played the Asgardian Heimdall in Marvel Studios Thor trilogy, and made a brief appearance in Avengers: Infinity War - although the way his scene ended, its unlikely well see him in the MCU again any time soon, which will free him up to head across the aisle and play a DC character.

Suicide Squad 2 currently has a release date of August 6, 2021. In the meantime, Elba will be starring in Netflix comedy series Turn Up Charlie from March 15, while Smith will be bringing a hip-hop flavor to the Genie in Disneys remake of Aladdin on May 24.

Philip Ellis