James Gunn Launches a Podcast to Finally Settle Whether ‘The Suicide Squad’ Is DCU Canon

Few questions have followed the DC Universe around as persistently as one that sounds simple: what counts as canon? Since James Gunn took over DC Studios, fans have tried to work out which parts of the old DC Extended Universe survived the reboot and which didn’t. Now Gunn is taking the question head-on, and a new ‘The Suicide Squad’ canon podcast is set to give fans a scene-by-scene answer.

The film is Gunn’s own 2021 DC debut, starring Idris Elba, John Cena, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis and Sylvester Stallone. It struggled at the box office but earned a 90% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also spun off the ‘Peacemaker’ series, which has since been folded into the new universe.

DC Studios has announced ‘The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon? — The Official Podcast’, a project dedicated to revealing how much of the 2021 movie is canon to the DCU. A teaser introduced the show, and Gunn will be joined by Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee, who play Emilia Harcourt and John Economos in the franchise. The trio will answer fan questions about the DCU.

No release schedule has been confirmed in the reports so far. Still, the concept is clear: Gunn will walk through the film and say which elements count.

To celebrate DC Super-Villain month, we’ve decided to lay down the law on whether The Suicide Squad is canon in the DCU – and discuss other behind-the-scenes fun facts along the way in a new Official The Suicide Squad "Is It Canon?" Podcast. With my charming cohosts, @jennlholland and Steve Agee. @DCOfficial @SuicideSquadWB

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 29, 2026

This isn’t the first time Gunn has gone this route. Ahead of the return of ‘Peacemaker’ on August 21, 2025, he launched a podcast dedicated to rewatching the first season. It shared behind-the-scenes stories while also clarifying which parts of that season would be canon to the DCU.

At the time, a fan asked whether he would do something similar for ‘The Suicide Squad’, and he confirmed that it was possible. He also confirmed that everything Peacemaker did in the film, including killing Rick Flag Jr., counts as part of the DCU canon.

The confusion stems from how Gunn has defined the rules. He has said the DCU begins with ‘Creature Commandos’, followed by ‘Superman’ and then ‘Peacemaker’ season 2. Events from earlier projects become canon if they are referenced in dialogue or shown in ‘Previously Seen’ recaps.

Rick Flag Jr.’s death is the main example. It is canon because it was mentioned in ‘Creature Commandos’, not because viewers saw it in ‘The Suicide Squad’. Gunn has described the 2021 film as having a lot of consistencies but as something like an imperfect memory.

‘Peacemaker’ season 1 is mostly consistent with the new canon, with the main exception of the Justice League. In the DCU version, the Justice Gang appears in the season 1 finale instead. That adjustment was handled through reshoots, which let the series fold into the new universe.

The second season, which aired from August 21 to October 9, 2025, is the first live-action series set in the DCU, taking place after ‘Superman’. That means the show sits on both sides of the divide, serving as a bridge between the old and new universes.

Te amo The Suicide Squad (2021) https://t.co/9d2OWyrYmp

— Nico (@iamNicoo0) October 28, 2026

The podcast could clear up some long-running questions. Gunn has hinted that certain characters from the film could appear again, noting that actors like Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker have appeared in different roles after their characters died. He has also suggested David Dastmalchian’s Polka-Dot Man could return in a future project, and he has liked comments praising Idris Elba’s Bloodsport.

Fans also want to know which details have changed, such as the film’s tone and Justice League references. A scene-by-scene breakdown could resolve those uncertainties.

The podcast arrives as the DCU continues to grow. The current timeline runs from ‘Lanterns’ flashbacks and ‘Clayface’ through ‘Creature Commandos’, ‘Superman’ and ‘Peacemaker’ season 2, then ‘Supergirl’ and the 2026 present-day scenes in ‘Lanterns’. That layered structure makes a clear canon guide more useful than ever.

For Gunn, it’s also a savvy way to engage fans directly. By turning a long-running debate into a show, DC Studios turns confusion into content.

Reactions online have been mixed with humor. Some fans joked that the studio needed an entire podcast to explain what’s canon, while others said it was a sign of how invested Gunn is in the fan community. Either way, the announcement has drawn plenty of attention.

Whatever the verdict, the answers will matter for how the DCU treats its earliest and most beloved characters. After years of speculation, fans may finally get a definitive guide.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!