Deadline is reporting that fan-favorite Nathan Fillion has joined the cast of James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’, although his role is unknown at this time. Fans have been clamoring to see Fillion in a superhero role for ages, and if this report is correct, it’s coming true at long last. ‘The Suicide Squad’ was written and will be directed by James Gunn. Fillion provided the voice of an inmate in Gunn’s Marvel movie ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, and would have appeared in poster form as Simon Williams, an actor also known as the superhero Wonder Man, in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2’ (in the flashbacks to Ego’s courtship of Star-Lord’s mom), but those bits got cut out.
Fillion starred as Bill Pardy in Gunn’s first movie, the comedy-horror ‘Slither’ in 2006. He later appeared in Gunn’s second film, the dark superhero parody ‘Super’. Fillion portrayed The Holy Avenger.
One thing to consider is that the main cast of ‘The Suicide Squad’ seems to have been filled: Idris Elba in an undisclosed role, but that may be Bronze Tiger, Storm Reid as his daughter, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher, and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. John Cena was reportedly in talks but his casting has not been confirmed. He may be playing The Peacemaker.
It’s possible that the talks with Cena fell through and that Fillion will take his role. He’d be great as Peacemaker!
One other possibility is King Shark, a character that was rumored to be in Gunn’s script, but whose casting hasn’t been announced, and who would be rendered in CGI. In that case, less would be required of Fillion, if he is just providing a voice performance.
It also makes his casting more likely, as Fillion currently stars on the ABC series ‘The Rookie’, which is returning for its second season on September 29. ‘The Suicide Squad’ might start filming later this year (but that’s not carved in stone), meaning that Fillion wouldn’t be available, due to his TV commitment. But if he’s just providing his voice, that would be more manageable.
Either that, or he will just pop up in a small role. Or ‘The Suicide Squad’s filming has been pushed back to next year. That’s a possibility because it isn’t due in theaters until late 2021.
Fillion played a superhero, Captain Hammer, in Joss Whedon’s ‘Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’. He voiced Steve Trevor in an animated ‘Wonder Woman’ movie, and Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, in numerous projects, most recently the ‘Reign of the Supermen’.
What part would you like Fillion to play in ‘The Suicide Squad’?
‘The Suicide Squad’ is due in theaters on August 6, 2021.
