Eight Things You Need To Know About The Suicide Squad

As Warner Bros. lifts the veil on their next big DC comic adaptation, the internet has gone into a blaze of fanboy spats and dreamy praise over casting news. But for those of you whose wardrobe floors aren't littered in curling comic books, you may be at a loss knowing who The Suicide Squad are. 

From their twisted relationship with the US government and the potential storyline of 2016's film adaptation, here are eight things you need to know about DC's antihero crew to fuel your pub-based discussion. You're welcome. 

1. The Suicide Squad

First appearing in DC's comic universe in 1959's The Brave and the Bold series of Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru, the Suicide Squad was introduced as an antihero team made up of DC's best loved villains. A covert, secretive group of captured criminals, the squad is formed by the US government in order to carry out operations they can't be seen to have a hand in, denying the group's operations as random super villain attacks in return for pardoning their crimes. 

Warner Bros. film will be dealing with the Suicide Squad introduced in DC's relaunched look of the New 52 in 2011. 

2. Friend or foe

Jared Leto's casting as the Joker points to the film involving the Suicide Squad's clash against Batman's long-time nemesis. The Joker isn't a part of the squad, but rather one of the villains the US government hope that the group can deal with. Given Harley Quinn's (Margot Robbie) on-off relationship with the Joker, you can expect Leto and Robbie to share some love/hate screen time, as their relationship is pulled apart by Quinn's commitment to the group and love of Mr J. 

3. The Other Villain

Despite the flurry of casting news, rumours are still circling to suggest that another major villain of the Suicide Squad story is yet to be announced. Jesse Eisenberg's casting in the role of Lex Luthor in the upcoming Batman vs Superman showdown could be significant, with one comic storyline seeing Luthor rising to the rank of US president and assembling the Suicide Squad to carry out his work. Were Luthor to survive the events of Batman vs Superman, we wouldn't be surprised to see him appear in 2016's villain-filled action. 

4. The Enchantress

Cara Delevingne's Enchantress is something of an unstable force within the Suicide Squad, and points toward the film taking a path in the opposite direction to the gritty realism of DC's other film adaptations. A possessed witch, her powers include sorcery and teleportation; if she's not able to use kick-ass magical powers, we've no idea why she'd have been included in the film. We'd put big money on her allegiances and mentality swapping throughout the film's storyline. 

5. Deadshot

Will Smith has been cast to play the master marksman Deadshot - another long-time rival of Batman seen as one of the most lethal assassins of the DC universe. His agreement to going the Suicide Squad lies in his own twisted desire to die in a spectacular fashion. There's a potential romance storyline on the cards with Robbie's Harley Quinn. 

6. Rick Flag

Tom Hardy is set to play the leader of the Suicide Squad, the disgraced soldier Rick Flag. The son of a World War II hero, Flag resents working alongside the criminal members of the squad. Expect him to constantly be at odds with Smith's Deadshot. 

7. Harley Quinn

Given the inclusion of the Joker, Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is likely to be one of the main focus points of the Suicide Squad film. Once a psychiatrist, her study of the Joker led her to fall in love with the villain, mirroring his twisted mental state and love of carnage. A constant flirt, Quinn may well betray the squad in order to rejoin the Joker. 

8. Captain Boomerang

A long-time foe of the Flash, the Australian criminal Boomerang is set to be played by Australian-born actor Jai Courtney. Armed with his namesake weapon, he has a strong rivalry with Deadshot, and doesn't give up his criminal activities as easily as the rest of the group.

Suicide Squad is set to arrive in August of 2016

(Images: Rex)