James Gunn Says He Would Like to Use Deadshot in the DCU at Some Point
Few characters in the DC Universe have a history as tangled as Deadshot. The master marksman was one of the faces of the first ‘Suicide Squad’ film, then vanished from the sequel in a casting shuffle that has been discussed ever since. Now the question of whether he’ll ever show up in James Gunn’s new continuity has a fresh answer, and the news about a Deadshot DCU appearance is more encouraging than fans might have expected.
The comments came from ‘The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon? — The Official Podcast’, the special in which Gunn, Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee dug into how much of the 2021 film counts in the DCU. Gunn declared the movie canon, calling it the first canon film in the universe. The discussion then turned to the characters who didn’t make it into his version, including Deadshot.
According to the podcast, Gunn said he would like to be able to use Deadshot at some point in the DCU. He didn’t announce a project, a timeline or a casting plan, so for now it is a statement of interest rather than a confirmed return. Still, it shows that the character is on his radar.
That’s notable because Deadshot, also known as Floyd Lawton, is one of the best-known members of Task Force X. In 2016’s ‘Suicide Squad’, he was played by Will Smith, and the role was a major part of that film’s marketing.
Smith’s absence from Gunn’s film was down to scheduling. In February 2019 he left the project because of conflicts, and Idris Elba was brought in as his replacement. Rather than recast Deadshot outright, Gunn and the studio rewrote Elba’s part as Bloodsport, another skilled marksman, which kept the door open for Smith to return later.
Producer Peter Safran has also said the Smith situation was more about schedule than anything else. The production had to start shooting in September because Gunn was due to return to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, so the timing left little flexibility. Gunn has since said that Elba received a negative reaction from fans of Smith when he was first linked to the role.
That decision has had a lasting effect. Bloodsport has since become part of the DCU, with Gunn confirming that the character is canon through a deleted scene discussion on the ‘Peacemaker’ podcast. He has also said he would like to see Elba return as Bloodsport or even as someone else.
Together with the canon verdict, it paints a picture of a universe that is willing to absorb the best pieces of the earlier film. Deadshot could fit into that framework, since the character remained open rather than being killed or replaced.
Gunn has also said that actors will play more than one character in the DCU. He mentioned Michael Rooker, who played Savant in ‘The Suicide Squad’ and later appeared in ‘Peacemaker’ season 2 as a different character. That approach makes it easier to imagine a new version of Deadshot without tying the part to a particular performer.
It also leaves questions about whether Smith would return. Nothing has been announced, and Gunn didn’t say whether he’d look to bring the original actor back or recast the role. At this stage, any talk of casting is speculation.
The DCU’s slate keeps growing, with ‘Supergirl’, ‘Lanterns’ and ‘Clayface’ released and a Batman project in the works. A ‘Waller’ spinoff has also been in development for years, and it would be a natural home for characters from the Task Force X world. Deadshot’s ties to the Suicide Squad make him a logical fit for any project of that kind.
Gunn has said there are no plans for a third season of ‘Peacemaker’, so the road for returning characters runs through new projects. That makes his comments about Deadshot more significant as a sign of future plans.
For now, the news is a small but encouraging step. Gunn has made clear that the 2021 film belongs to the DCU, and he has mentioned several characters he wants to use again. Deadshot has joined that list.
Whether it’s Will Smith, a new actor or a version of the character that looks nothing like the one fans remember, the idea of a marksman with a perfect aim returning to the universe is an appealing one. All that is missing is a project to put him in.
Who should play Deadshot in the new DCU?
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