Suicide Squad 2 Updates: James Gunn posted a new behind-the-scenes shot from The Suicide Squad, which features Pete Davidson as Blackguard and Idris Elba as Bloodsport, both clad in prison jumpsuits.

Some characters from David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad film, like as Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), return in Gunn’s standalone sequel. Among the new characters introduced by Gunn from the DC comic book canon are Robert du Bois, a.k.a. Bloodsport, a mercenary enemy of Superman with a bespoke technologically advanced suit, and Richard “Dick” Hertz, a.k.a. Blackguard, a less-than-intelligent mercenary who usually ends up foiling his schemes or dying through his stupidity.

In The Suicide Squad, Davidson’s Blackguard and Elba’s Bloodsport, along with the rest of Task Force X, go to Corto Maltese to dismantle a Nazi prison and laboratory, only to be met by Starro, a massive alien starfish.

The sight of a massive alien starfish may hint to the film’s tone in comparison to 2016’s Suicide Squad. In the film, Joel Kinnaman returns as Rick Flag, Peter Capaldi portrays Gaius Greves, a.k.a. The Thinker, and Slyvester Stallone as King Shark. He also shared a behind-the-scenes photo with his co-star John Cena, who portrays Peacemaker in the film. The film will be released in theatres and on HBO Max on August 5.

Suicide Squad 2 BTS Image

Gunn has been releasing new behind-the-scenes photographs from The Suicide Squad’s promotional tour in the lead up to the film’s release. Gunn goes in close to Davidson, who wraps his arm over Gunn’s shoulder in his most recent photo. Despite his “werewolf phobia,” Gunn praises Davidson as a “great talent” with whom he “had a tremendous affinity,” the latter being a reference to a joke in the most recent “leaked” Suicide Squad teaser.

Both Davidson and Elba are dressed in orange prison jumpsuits, implying that the photo was taken during the shooting of events previous to Task Force X’s operation. Because of Blackguard’s relative obscurity in the comic, it’s unclear how major his role in the film will be.

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Because Davidson has proved his comedic talents on Saturday Night Live, it’s probable that Blackguard is being depicted primarily as comic relief in the teasers and TV advertising. Bloodsport, on the other hand, appears to be a significant character in the film, as the trailers tease a dramatic father-daughter romance and Waller selects him to lead The Suicide Squad on their mission.

Early reviews have been positive, with praise for the ensemble cast, stylised violence, and comedy. By bringing in new characters and leaving out some of the more polarising ones from Suicide Squad, such as Jared Leto’s Joker, Gunn may have put The Suicide Squad franchise on a less controversial road. Warner Bros. looks to be confident in how Gunn’s vision will be welcomed by a bigger audience, as seen by the upcoming Peacemaker TV spin-off.