Will Smith has dropped out of the upcoming sequel to Suicide Squad, according to Variety.
Director James Gunn is taking over the franchise after his controversial exit from Guardians of the Galaxy, but he won’t be able to call on Deadshot unless the character is recast.
According to Variety, Will Smith has cited his busy work schedule (read: plunging himself into gallons of blue paint) as the reason for the exit, and remains on amicable terms with the team behind the movie.
The studio will hope to retain the rest of the star cast, including Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. The Australian actress will reprise the role in the upcoming standalone film Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).
David Ayers original Suicide Squad proved unpopular with critics but earned $746 million at the box office, so it should come as no surprise that the studio are full steam ahead with the sequel. They’ll hope that James Gunn can replicate the kind of success he has with Guardians of the Galaxy when it's released on 6 August, 2021.
They’re reportedly less certain on Jared Leto’s Joker spin-off, especially with Joaquin Phoenix’s much-anticipated solo turn as the Clown Prince on the horizon.
