GoldenJCJ

I didn’t even realize Snyder was involved in this. I saw his wife’s name in the opening credits but must have missed Zack’s.

Is Snyder involved in every DC movie? Is this his master plan we’re seeing unfold?

DJariya

I believe he’s credited as an EP because his production company is involved. But he has no direct involvement with this movie.

Mike86

I think another factor is the on-going problem DC has had since starting the DCEU. It’s yet another entry in this disjointed universe.

The Suicide Squad in particular kind of exemplifies that more than other DCEU films. It hardly knows what it is. It’s not really a sequel, but it also isn’t a full-on reboot because there are carryover characters from Suicide Squad. Also not to mention the fact that the films are titled very similarly, only difference is that this one added the word The.

DC films just continue to be messy. Not saying that some of them aren’t be enjoyable in their own right, but there’s not enough of a cohesive glue tying things together.

Why So Blu?

Yep, that's one of the reasons mentioned in the article. Gunn should have just gone with the Part 2. Audiences tend to be pretty obtuse in "getting it." The less thinking, the better.

Troy Stiffler

Was it not just a continuation? Sure they killed off some characters from the first. Does it lack continuity? I didn’t like the first so I can’t really remember.

E Unit

^^^ That’s the problem with this movie and the DCU as a whole. It doesn’t know what it wants to be. It lacks an identity.

RichC2

I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be considered a continuation/sequel - the main problem people seem to have with calling it that is not having Smith back.

Unless we're talking canon with the 4 hour JL Snyder cut where Quinn is reportedly dead.

Sonny Corinthos

I saw it last night and I loved it! It's a fun summertime movie. I do agree with others, I felt like it ran a little long.

majorjoe23

But her death was at some point between the current DCEU and that dystopian future. There’s not reason lots of stuff couldn’t happen between those points.

RichC2

Good point. So yeah, I say this is a sequel.

Big Boy Laroux

The interaction between Harley and Capt Boomerang indicates it is a sequel (although the movie of course isn't titled as such). They recognize each other, he asks what she did to get back into prison, etc. But I believe that is the only dialogue that even acknowledges the events of that film in any capacity. You could also say that the Flagg/Quinn relationship is also an acknowledgement of the first film - although I don't believe there's any dialogue to that effect.


As to the movie itself - I certainly liked it better than the first film - but didn't love it. As many have mentioned, it really slowed down in the middle - really could have done without the entire harley love interest scenes. Just have her get captured and do the same breakout scene, but drop all the other stuff.

Mike86

If it’s supposed to be a sequel it seems like it is in the loosest ways possible. The vibe I got from the announcement and production felt more like it was supposed to be a soft reboot. It’s an oddity kind of as it feels like it could really be either or.

I feel like if this film wanted to be a sequel it could have carried over more characters. Most of the Squad from the first film survived, but yet only Harley is on the new team (and Flag I suppose). The only other team member shown is Captain Boomerang, and he dies pretty much right away.

Red Hood

Again, this is the concept of the Suicide Squad on the comic book. They aren't a team like the Justice League or Teen Titans with an established membership. They are a fluid team of villains assembled by Amanda Waller in which the roster is set depending on the necessity of the mission. Not even Rick Flagg is a constant throughout their missions in the comic books. Waller expects everyone to die, but if they survive, the go back to prison and their sentence is adjusted. So a character like Katana, who was in the first mission, is probably now out of prison and there's no reason for her to be involved in another mission for the Squad.

Red Hood

I'm seeing that one of the main problems with the people that don't read the comic books/source material for the Suicide Squad is basically understanding the concept of why the team exist. I feel that both films didn't explain that explicitly and has cause more confusion. The team actually isn't called the Suicide Squad per se. That's the nickname it has. The team's name is project Task Force X.

Big Boy Laroux

The character arc/skillset/actions of Bloodsport are so similar to Deadshot, it's like it's the same character. So if they had recast smith with Elba, then yes, definite reboot. But I think that swerve to a new character of Bloodsport was the decision point of making it a loose sequel. Not sure whose decision that ultimately was, but I see it as a sequel.

Mike86

I realize that, but I think when it’s unclear as to what exactly this film is supposed to be (continuation, reboot, or other) that the film didn’t exactly do itself any favors by intermixing some characters from the first film, but mostly a bunch of new characters. The thing is it would be one thing if it was a one off occurrence, but DC films are notorious for being disjointed.

Red Hood

The reason for being disjointed is because that was the mandate by Hamada and the top at Warnermedia/AT&T/Discovery. They don't want anything to tie directly to another film. That's the reason why right now there's a Black Adam film that so far isn't tied to Shazam or Shazam 2, and there are other films on schedule like Pattison's Batman, Joker 2, Blue Beetle, Batgirl, Aquaman 2, Supergirl, Wonder Woman 3, Blackhawk and TV shows for Green Lantern Corps and Madame Xanadu. Supposedly, everything will be explained in Flash: Flashpoint, and the introduction of the DC multiverse (which was already done in the Arrowverse) but this shows the big problem at Warnermedia: They don't have a plan or a singular vision. In contrast, Marvel has a singular vision with Kevin Feige and those who don't agree, like the Whedons, Edgar Wright and Scott Derickson, are simply told to leave. The success of Marvel is similar to the success of the comic book counterparts: there's an interconnected superhero world and each film leads to the next adventure. While Marvel is now on it's 26th film, with 20 more planned, DC still has the same issues that have plagued them since 1995's Batman Forever. It was clear that Snyder's vision was completely flawed as he doesn't understand superheros at all and wants his slow motion style and dark tints to supersede what the stories and character should be, but as of now, DC still hasn't found that person to move these movies forward with a singular vision. Honestly, it's a hard job to do and a hard position to fill, but there are some people out there that could certainly do this and be successful, like Brad Bird, James Gunn, and maybe even Paul Dini.

DJariya

Samba measured some viewership.

Giantrobo

Me too. Because you realize in many ways the US Gov and The Thinker were the real villains coming to that point then Boom...that line. For some weird reason that line also pissed me off because it felt kinda unfair to throw it in like that.

Giantrobo

Yep and Flagg pointed that out in the film.

Mike86

I could accept if they didn’t have a grand plan for a DCEU, but it would be nice if at least some things fell into place together.

Like just tell us that The Suicide Squad is a sequel to Suicide Squad if that’s supposed to be the case.

Same with something like Black Adam. Why would that not be related to Shazam! when those characters are related?

It just feels like they have no common sense or any semblance of making coherent films. It’s frustrating.

DJariya

Twitter

Shannon Nutt

(a) it's a box office disappointment but (b) it had the highest opening weekend of any R-rated flick this year. So you can spin this however way you want.

E Unit

(b) isn't saying a lot at all. There have been very few theatrical releases in general. Conjuring 3 made just under, and grossed $65 mil US/and almost $200 mil worldwide. I'm not sure Suicide Squad will hit those numbers. And both also premiered on HBO Max.

Shannon Nutt

More cities are back under mask mandates since The Conjuring 3 came out. In fact, June was when most states were lifting mandates - so people really wanted to get out.