How 'Suicide Squad' Stands Out From the Comic Book Movie Pack

As most of you know, Warner Bros. (Time Warner Time Warner Inc.) confirmed the cast for what is turning out to be a star-studded adaptation of the Suicide Squad comic book. While it is one of basically three bad guys on a mission superhero movies in development (along with Sony Sonys Sinister Six and Walt Disney's Walt Disney'srumored stand-alone Star Wars film centered on bounty hunters stealing the Death Star plans in the pre-A New Hope era), DC Comics villains forced to work together adventure clearly has the momentum.

Whats interesting about the project, aside from being likely the first such super-villain team-up film to actually happen is that it represents something of an inversion of the usual superhero movie pattern up to now. This wont be come see the heroes or villains you love, but rather come see a bunch of movie stars (Will Smith! Tom Hardy! Possibly Oprah Winfrey!) playing comic book baddies!

Now of course the Suicide Squad movie, which will be written and directed by David Ayers and released on August 5th, 2016, wont be the first time weve seen movie stars playing comic book bad guys. Heck, the sub-genre was basically founded on the concept, with Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor offering prestige to Richard Donners Superman: The Movie in 1978 and Jack Nicholson earning $50 million (thanks to getting a cut of the merchandise sales) as The Joker in Tim Burtons Batman. But none the less, the core selling point for most superhero films over the last twenty-five years, as especially in the last fifteen years (post-X-Men) was the idea of seeing your favorite four-color heroes and villains in glorious live-action. To wit, few saw Hulk because they were huge fans of Eric Bana, Nick Nolte, or Jennifer Connelly, as ridiculously good as they were in Ang Lees somewhat underrated drama. The presence of known movie stars like Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, and Kirsten Dunst were bonuses for sure in 2002, but most of the $821 million-worth of moviegoers who flocked to see Spider-Man did so because it was (at-long-last) a Spider-Man movie. Ditto Batman Begins, X-Men, and the various Marvel films (Captain America, Thor, etc.).

You could argue a few exceptions here and there (Wesley Snipes in Blade, Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man, etc.), but as a general rule, the appeal was rooted in the iconic characters first and who was playing them an often distant second. Thats what makes Suicide Squad unique. The vast majority of general moviegoers wont be going to see the likes of Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, or Rick Flag, but rather going to see the well-known actors playing them. Will Smith is of course one of the biggest movie stars in the world, so the idea of him playing a comic book villain is a selling point all-by-itself. Its a coup for Warner Bros., as is the overall scope of the rest of the cast. While Smith is the only box office movie star of the group, the likes of Tom Hardy (Rich Flag) and Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang) are somewhat known names that will cause at least a token curiosity, especially as they are in one movie together, along with whomever gets cast as devious government operative Amanda Waller (I would go with Octavia Spencer, but if they can get Oprah Winfrey thats so much free publicity).

Now the two big names I left off arguably constitute come for the character exceptions. To wit, despite my pleas that Kristen Ritter be cast as Harley Quinn, they went with (the completely acceptable even if Im tempted to play the part of entitled comic book nerd fan-caster just this once) Margot Robbie. She is best known for Wolf of Wall Street and soon to be seen alongside Will Smith in the con artist drama Focus. Now the inclusion of mega-fan favorite character Harley Quinn is arguably the films secret weapon, but now it looks like she may be overshadowed by her boyfriend, a potentially ironic development that Ill wait before casting judgment upon.

On that note, Warner Bros. has recast The Joker to play a role (size unknown) in this all-star super-villains to the rescue caper, and it will apparently be the Clown Prince of Crimes introduction in the new DC universe. As rumored a month ago (nice scoop, The Wraps Jeff Sneider), the part will go to Jared Leto, hot off his Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club. The casting of Leto as The Joker is encouraging in that DC and Warner Bros. are not afraid of redefining the role in the wake of Heath Ledgers Oscar-winning turn in The Dark Knight any more than Chris Nolan and company were afraid of Jack Nicholsons shadow or any voice over artists (Kevin Michael Richardson, Jeff Bennett, John DiMaggio, etc.) were afraid of the long shadow cast by Mark Hamill. The show must go on, and there is no way Warner Bros. is leaving out the most iconic fictional villain in modern literary history because of fears that the role should somehow be retired because Ledger died soon after playing it. I have no idea what kind of Joker Jared Leto will be, and thats a bit exciting (I will forever applaud Warners courage if they go with the recent Joker cut off his own face and now wears it as a mask incarnation).

The use of Harley Quinn is of course a major deal to the countless fans who grew up on the character either in Batman: The Animated Series or the various comic book offshoots which incorporated her character into the modern continuity starting back in 1999. Also of note, it is alleged that Jesse Eisenbergs Lex Luthor will make an appearance in the film. So, Isuppose this means, spoiler I guess, that he doesnt die in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. But its likely that The Joker will have a small role in the picture and putting him aside the focus will be on the mostly unknown (to the masses) characters, which means unlike most superhero films the marketing hook will be the movie stars on display in tights rather than the characters they are playing. The marketing for Suicide Squad will be Come see Will Smith, Tom Hardy, and (Octavia Spencer/Viola Davis or Oprah Winfrey as Amanda Waller)! rather than Come see Deadshot, Rick Flagg, and Amanda Waller! It will be as much a star vehicle for Will Smith as a superhero/super-villain ensemble picture.

This is frankly unusual for the sub-genre that arguably helped mortally wound the star system. Yes, it is star + concept for sure, as Will Smith as a comic book super-villain will arguably make more money than Will Smith as a con man who trains a young protg and falls in love. But in a genre built on the likes of Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Henry Cavill as Superman, and Christian Bale as Batman (yes, I loved American Psychotoo, but look at his box office track record prior to playing Batman), the fact that were seeing a comic book adventure predicated on pure star power first and not-so-iconic characters second is interesting in-and-of-itself. That, beyond even the also notable super-villains forced to go on black-ops missions by shady government operatives hook, is what separates Suicide Squad from the back. It is the rare modern comic book superhero movie that will be sold primarily on the back of its movie stars.

Also on Forbes:

If you like what youre reading, follow me on Forbes, follow @ScottMendelson on Twitter, and like The Ticket Booth on Facebook. Also, check out my archives for older work HERE.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2014/12/03/how-suicide-squad-stands-out-from-the-comic-book-movie-pack/