You didn’t read the title wrong. Mel Gibson is actually in talks with Warner Brothers and DC to direct the sequel to last summer’s blockbuster Suicide Squad. Suicide Squad was not received well by critics and even worse, it wasn’t well received well by fans either, not reaching the box office heights that they had hoped to achieve when setting out to do the project. The concept of the movie surrounded Argus’ military operator Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), assembling a team of villains to do her dirty work. The team in the first movie included Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, El Diablo, Captain Boomerang, and their captain Colonel Rick Flag.
At first, the idea that Gibson was in discussion to helm the sequel of Suicide Squad, was just a rumor but in a Q & A session for the opening screening of his Oscar-nominated movie Hacksaw Ridge. The Moderator of the session asked Gibson ‘So is this getting close to a deal or is it a first date?’, to which Gibson replied ‘it’s kind of a first date’. I’m glad this was just a first date, because I hope he doesn’t ever get to 3rd base. (Video Via Collin Llewellyn):
There’s no doubt that Gibson is a talented director and actor, but will he really be able to bring back some life to the Suicide Squad? With David Ayer, the director of the first movie, set to direct the Gotham City Sirens movie which is going to surround DC characters, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman, Gibson was the best person you could find to helm the sequel? Ayer received tons of criticism for the way he portrayed and directed the suicide squad, I wonder how bad of a backlash Mel Gibson would receive. I’ll give the benefit of the doubt to the man who created Braveheart, but stylistically, I just don’t seem him being able to rejuvenate the Suicide Squad franchise that needs something outstanding to bring fans back to watch another movie. Warner Brothers have a reported shortlist of directors they have met with, like Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies) and Daniel Espinosa (Safehouse), along with Gibson for the sequel. Let’s hope they explore their options.
