“Guardians of the Galaxy” alum Michael Rooker is in talks to join the cast of James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad,” an individual with knowledge of the project exclusively told TheWrap.
The sequel to 2016’s “Suicide Squad” will hit theaters on Aug. 6, 2021. Peter Safran and Charles Roven are producing.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” director Gunn was brought on board in January to helm the project. He wrote the script and will have a completely new take on the property, in which DC supervillains are recruited by the government to carry out secret missions too dirty for the likes of Superman and Batman.
The role continues Rooker’s long professional relationship with Gunn; the actor has appeared in every feature film directed by Gunn, including his portrayal of Yondu Udonta in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, as well as the Gunn-produced films “The Belko Experiment” and “Brightburn.”
“Suicide Squad” was directed and written by David Ayer and starred Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, Ezra Miller, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Cara Delevingne and Joel Kinnaman.
It grossed $325 million domestically and almost $750 million worldwide, although it was mostly panned by critics.
Rooker just wrapped production on Sony’s “Fantasy Island” and was recently seen opposite Mahershala Ali in season three of HBO’s “True Detective.” Next up, Rooker will star alongside Dylan O’Brien in “Monster Problems,” for Paramount Players. Rooker will play the role of Clyde, a seasoned hunter who teaches O’Brien’s character how to survive the Monster Apocalypse.
Rooker is repped by Gersh and Link Entertainment.
Warner Bros. declined to comment.