THE SUICIDE SQUAD Producer Reveals Why Will Smith Didn't Reprise The Role Of Deadshot

THE SUICIDE SQUAD Producer Reveals Why Will Smith Didn't Reprise The Role Of Deadshot

James Gunn's The Suicide Squad will bring back several characters from David Ayer's original, but Will Smith's Deadshot will not be among them. In a new interview, producer Peter Safran reveals why...

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By MarkCassidy - Jul 07, 2021 05:07 AM EST
Filed Under: The Suicide Squad

Back in 2019, the news that Idris Elba was in talks to "replace" Will Smith as Deadshot in James Gunn's Suicide Squad follow-up broke. It later came to light that the Thor: Ragnarok actor would actually be playing a different character altogether, but it sounds like Gunn's original story idea did include Floyd Lawton.

The Suicide Squad producer Peter Safran has now confirmed that Smith was in talks to return as Deadshot, but his schedule simply wouldn't allow it.

"We discussed it," Safran tells ComicBook.com. "But I think the Will of it all was really more of a schedule thing than anything else. We knew we had to start shooting in September [2019] because, frankly, we knew probably earlier than other people did that James was going to come back and do Guardians [of the Galaxy vol 3].

"So it was really important that we started shooting when we started shooting and Will wasn't available," he continued. "And that kind of made it easier all around. What are you going to do? He's not available. So it's also nice to, frankly, help separate it from the first movie, I think, in a greater fashion."

There's a lot of speculation that Elba was originally cast as Lawton before Gunn decided to introduce Bloodsport, and it's hard to deny the similarities between the two characters (the latter even has a young daughter who Amanda Waller us using to manipulate him into joining Task Force X). Whatever the case may be, this does leave the door open for Smith to return as Deadshot down the line.

The Suicide Squad is set for theatrical and HBO Max release on August 6.

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Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 5:34 AM
I wonder if he did come back.. Elba would still have a role?

I like the idea of those two going off each other... not too unlike bad boys.
GwenLantern
GwenLantern - 7/7/2021, 6:07 AM
@Jaykay21 - Love the avatar. I bought that book first day of release.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 6:41 AM
@GwenLantern - Kent Williams is the man! been trying to figure out a way to make the tattoo work for me for years but still not there.

How did you find the book? I thought the movie was decent FOR THE reduced budget... but the soundtrack...MY GOD!
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 7/7/2021, 8:39 AM
@Jaykay21 - He wouldn't have come back, the reviews were terrible and Will Smith doesn't return to franchises he doesn't believe in or isn't getting paid a lot for.

TBH if he wanted to come back, WB would've waited or paid him for a cameo. Director/Producer of independence day 2 said it was a scheduling thing too but Will Smith revealed later on that he didn't return because he didn't like the script or budget. Same thing happened with Men In Black 4, there was never a sequel with him despite 3 having a good box office because Will Smith chose not to return after the poor reception of 3.

Will Smith's the type of person who has [frick] you money and can walk from any project he doesn't belive in.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 8:50 AM
@mastakilla39 - I think he would of come back if he was asked and paid handsomely. He believed in it and Ayers initital vision. I mean they went on to work together again in Bright.

I also believe DC films wanted to rush this new one through production as they were desperate to have some of Gunns Marvel tone before he got busy again. do you remember how quick he got the job when he was dumped by Disney. all of Will Smith's money went to him.

that or..
I think Jada prob layed down the law that he's not allowed to work with Robbie again 🤣...if you believe the rumours to be true.
Boyle360
Boyle360 - 7/7/2021, 9:01 AM
@Jaykay21 - "not too unlike bad boys"

I fail to see the similarity here....are you literally saying that because they're both black?
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 7/7/2021, 9:07 AM
@Jaykay21 - WB was already paying big bucks for Gunn, I think they couldn't afford both. But if Smith believed in this franchise he would've returned for lower pay like Margot Robbie. He only did Bright at that time because Netflix paid him 25 mil and that was the biggest paycheck he ever got for a film. He did Suicide Squad 1 because they paid him 20 mil and a % of the box office. I don't think his friendship with Ayer has anything to do with it, for that much anyone could've directed it and he'll be in it.

Projects he cares about are like Concussion and the upcoming King Richard biopic where he took a significantly lower salary to play the lead roles in which he actually likes the script.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 9:07 AM
@Boyle360 - did I say that? no..

Two often leading actors of similar acreen presence and background in a similar role that can have comedic presence with some good writing can be comedic, Elba's no Tommy Lee Jones otherwise I would have compared it to MIB, the other Smith Buddy franchise that came to mind was Bad Boys.

Also, yeah because they're both leading black men.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 9:11 AM
@mastakilla39 - Yeah i can imagine it wasn't top on his list of properties to return for, but I feel if he was free and it fit his schedule he would have.

I'm sure he was still contractually obligated to if they really wanted him back that bad. As 20 mill is normally a multi picture deal, unless they choose not to enforce it.

either way I hope he pops up again.

Also, I didn't know Robbie took a pay cut...where'd you see that?
GwenLantern
GwenLantern - 7/7/2021, 11:23 AM
@Jaykay21 - If he'd shot what was in the book onscreen it would have required a much bigger budget, for sure. Would've been R-rated too (if not NC-17). But I did love the movie too. Fvcking brilliant score (not quite Requiem for a Dream, but still brilliant). Also was the first time I realised Hugh Jackman could act.
But nothing quite compares to Kent Williams art for the OGN. Especially that cover!
Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 11:58 AM
@GwenLantern - Yeah, I'll forever be curious of how the Pitt/Blanchett version would've turned out, but Jackman knocked it out of the park, better than what I imagine Pitt would have done.

A Life goal is to learn how to play piano just to play 'Together We Will Live Forever'

Good to know some one else appreciates The Fountain though!
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 7/7/2021, 5:41 AM
I think having Elba around as a new character, even when it's just a subsitute for Smith's Deadshot, does help it differentiate. And the less I have to be reminded of the first movie, the better.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 7/7/2021, 8:49 AM
@bkmeijer - It only helps comic book nerds. just seeing the trailer alone, if i'm not a comic book fan it looks like DC just recasted. similar to the war machine with terrance howard and don cheadle.

I never read a comic book that featured Bloodsport but its obvious that Elba is meant to replace Smith because they both have siimilar motives and goals. You can tell Gunn doesn't care because its his film and franchise now. I wouldn't be surprise if he re-introduces Harley Quinn and ignores BOP and SS1.
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 7/7/2021, 9:38 AM
@mastakilla39 - yeah it might as well be a recast. But I don't think it really matters anyway what he does with the character, because no matter what they tell me this looks like a reboot to me
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/7/2021, 5:44 AM
Bloodsport is just a substitute but having both of them could’ve been interesting
Conquistador
Conquistador - 7/7/2021, 5:55 AM
@BlackBeltJones - That's my thinking.
99OPTIMISTPRIME
99OPTIMISTPRIME - 7/7/2021, 5:57 AM
"So it's also nice to, frankly, help separate it from the first movie, I think, in a greater fashion."
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 7/7/2021, 7:01 AM
@99OPTIMISTPRIME - -Hollywoodspeak for "Nobody wants to be assoicated with that piece of shit." 😝
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 7/7/2021, 5:59 AM
I've come to the realization the squad were seeing (Bloodsport, Polka Dot Man, King Shark, Ratcatcher 2, Peacemaker) is like Wallers B team with people she doesn't trust (Peacemaker, Shark) or that are a little too mentally unwell (Ratcatcher, Polka Dot man). The first team is captured and Bloodsport is needed so bad by Waller because he's the sanest of them (he's the criminal Rick Flagg for Waller)
Blergh
Blergh - 7/7/2021, 6:10 AM
There's been a rumor going around for years that Smith demands a much higher salary for sequels and creative control.
He does tend to jump off of a bunch of sequels that aren't Bad Boys or Men in Black and even with MiB the rumor was that he would have demanded a massive salary for a small cameo
BecauseICare
BecauseICare - 7/7/2021, 6:37 AM
"There's a lot of speculation that Elba was originally cast as Lawton before Gunn decided to introduce Bloodsport, and it's hard to deny the similarities between the two characters (the latter even has a young daughter who Amanda Waller us using to manipulate him into joining Task Force X)."

This. Coupled with what @blergh said above about Will Smith and sequels, it all makes sense. Although I wonder why someone would price themselves out of a franchise? Why wouldn't you want to a) keep working b) keep your name and face in the public eye so that you stay in the minds of producers/directors of other projects you may be interested in and c) know where your next paycheck is coming from? That part I don't understand.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 7/7/2021, 7:26 AM
At first I had hoped that Elba’s character was going to be Bronze Tiger. To see his fighting prowess in a movie would be great but after reading up on Bloodsport and his gadgets (especially his teleportation device) he seems like a good fit. Looking forward to it.
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