Back when The Suicide Squad was shooting, some revealing set photos led to speculation that Starro would be making an appearance in the film, and the recent red-band trailer confirmed that the character will indeed feature as one of the villains.
The gigantic alien invader seemed like a strange choice of villain to pit the members of Task Force X against, but director James Gunn has now explained why he decided to introduce "The Conqueror," while hinting that he won't be the only baddie in the movie.
“Starro is hilarious because he’s ridiculous," the filmmaker tells Den of Geek. "He’s a giant, cerulean blue starfish, but he’s also [frick]ing terrifying. When I was a kid I thought that was the scariest thing of all time… and I think that exemplifies what this movie is: it is ridiculous and it’s also terrifying, and serious. So he works really well as the villain of the movie—as one of the villains, actually.”
Unfortunately, Gunn didn't give any indication who the other villain(s) might be, but there's no shortage of speculation online.
The director also touched on the movie's body-count, reiterating that he was given permission to take out any character he saw fit. That doesn't mean he's going to go on a kill-crazy rampage just for the sake of it, however.
“The first thing I had to do was ignore the potential blowback from killing a character,” Gunn says. “I’m just the servant of the story, so whatever the story says is what I’m going to do, no matter what the repercussions are for anything. I believe in the truth of the story. I believe that there was a story out there that needed to be told that I don’t have any control over.”
Who do you see making it to the end credits? Let us know in the comments.
"Welcome to hell — a.k.a. Bell Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out — even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today's do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and everyone's favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese."
"Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and- destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave...and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them."
The Suicide Squad is set to premiere on HBO Max and in theaters on August 6.
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