What Happened to Suicide Squad (franchise/films)?

The 'Suicide Squad' film franchise began with David Ayer's 2016 film, which introduced a team of incarcerated supervillains undertaking black-ops missions for the government in exchange for reduced sentences. Despite being critically panned, the film was a significant box office success, grossing $746 million worldwide. It featured prominent characters like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith), and Amanda Waller (Viola Davis).

Following the mixed reception of the 2016 film and the broader DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Warner Bros. opted for a new direction. In 2019, James Gunn, known for Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' was hired to write and direct a new 'Suicide Squad' film. This project, titled 'The Suicide Squad' (2021), was described by producer Peter Safran as a 'total reboot' rather than a direct sequel, though it retained some cast members like Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, and Jai Courtney. Released in August 2021, 'The Suicide Squad' received widespread critical acclaim for its humor, action, and character development, but underperformed at the box office, earning $168.7 million globally, partly due to its simultaneous HBO Max release and the ongoing pandemic.

James Gunn further expanded this corner of the DCEU with the 'Peacemaker' television series, a spin-off from 'The Suicide Squad' starring John Cena. The first season premiered on HBO Max in January 2022 and was a critical and commercial success, further exploring the jingoistic vigilante Christopher Smith. The series was notable for its unique tone and character development. The character of Amanda Waller, portrayed by Viola Davis, also continued to be a central figure, appearing in both films and the 'Peacemaker' series.

In November 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed co-CEOs of the newly formed DC Studios, tasked with overseeing a unified DC Universe (DCU) across film, television, and games. They announced that the DCU would be a 'soft reboot' of the DCEU, selectively incorporating elements that worked. Crucially, 'The Suicide Squad' and 'Peacemaker' season 1 were retroactively integrated into the new DCU continuity. 'Peacemaker' season 2 is slated to take place after the events of the upcoming 'Superman' film (2025), further cementing its place in the new continuity.

Another significant development was the video game 'Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,' developed by Rocksteady Studios. Announced in August 2020 and delayed multiple times, it eventually released on February 2, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising its narrative but criticizing its repetitive gameplay and live-service elements. It failed to meet sales expectations, and Rocksteady ended post-launch support for the game in January 2025.

The future of the 'Suicide Squad' within the DCU remains dynamic. A 'Waller' live-action series, starring Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, was announced in January 2023 as part of the initial DCU Chapter 1 slate. While initially delayed due to industry strikes, its status has seen fluctuations. In March 2026, HBO's Casey Bloys indicated it was not 'on the runway' for immediate production but was not canceled and remained in development. However, by August 2026, reports suggested that 'Waller' was no longer in active development at HBO but was still alive at DC Studios, albeit with a lower priority. James Gunn has stated that there are no immediate plans for a 'Suicide Squad 3' film due to his busy schedule, but he has not ruled out the possibility of future 'Suicide Squad' movies featuring new teams, acknowledging the franchise's inherent flexibility for roster changes.