James Gunn Explains Why Ayer's Suicide Squad Isn't DCU Canon
On the debut episode of The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?, Gunn said the 2016 film doesn't need to be established as backstory for the 2021 sequel.
James Gunn addressed the canon status of David Ayer's 2016 film Suicide Squad on the debut episode of the podcast The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?, according to comingsoon.net. Gunn, the filmmaker and DC Universe executive, explained why the earlier movie is not treated as canon to the new DC Universe.
Gunn said it does not need to be established that Harley Quinn's relationships with Rick Flag and Boomerang in the 2021 film The Suicide Squad originated in the 2016 movie. In his view, the characters can simply be treated as having carried out Suicide Squad missions together in the past.
He also said that declaring Ayer's film canon would mean "we're screwed," framing the decision as a practical one rather than a rejection of the earlier movie.
At the same time, Gunn acknowledged that he could bring some of these characters into his universe with a new storyline.
Older context
Released in 2016, Ayer's Suicide Squad follows supervillains recruited by Amanda Waller for a dangerous mission and features Ben Affleck as Batman, tying it to the DC Extended Universe. Gunn's own The Suicide Squad was released in 2021.
Quick answers
Is David Ayer's Suicide Squad canon to the new DC Universe?
James Gunn said it is not treated as canon, explaining on the podcast that Harley Quinn's relationships with Rick Flag and Boomerang in the 2021 film don't need to be established as coming from the 2016 movie.
What podcast did James Gunn discuss this on?
The debut episode of The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?
Will Gunn bring Suicide Squad characters into his universe?
He acknowledged he could bring some of these characters into his universe with a new storyline.