Will Smith Explains Why He Didn’t Reprise The Role Of Deadshot In The Suicide Squad (2021)

Will Smith's Deadshot was notably absent from James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad' and we didn't know why he didn't reprise his role...until now.
Deadshot Will Smith Suicide Squad

James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad featured the return of numerous characters from its predecessor, David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. However, Will Smith’s Deadshot was notably absent. We didn’t know why he didn’t reprise his role…until now.

Prior to the revelation of Idris Elba’s character being Bloodsport, several trades reported about Elba being in talks to replace Smith, many assumed this was a recasting with Elba as Deadshot instead of Smith. Well, now we all know that did not turn out to be the case.

bloodsport - the suicide squad Will Smith

RELATED: THE SUICIDE SQUAD: JAMES GUNN REVEALS WHICH CHARACTER ESCAPED DEATH (SPOILERS)

There was speculation suggesting that Floyd Lawton was originally in James Gunn’s script, but when Will Smith declined to reprise the role, Gunn opted for a new character, with Robert Dubois being the obvious choice. There’s possibly truth behind this, however, this seems like this was more a case of Smith being unable to return, as opposed to being unwilling.

Will Smith Answers All The Questions

Deadshot Will Smith Suicide Squad

In a video interview with GQ, the Fresh Prince answered a fan’s question asking why he wasn’t involved with Gunn’s film. “Yeah, I was working and they were ready to shoot. It was a timing issue,” confirmed Smith, before suggesting that he would be interested in stepping into the role again down the line.

James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad may not have performed as well as he hoped at the box office and money talks for Warner Bros, so the future of the franchise may be uncertain. Then again, there’s the Peacemaker series coming to HBO MAX and probably at least one more project involving Harley Quinn in the works, so it’s not over yet. The possibility of a third Suicide Squad film exists. If we get a third film, we should see Will Smith’s Deadshot come face to face with Elba’s Bloodsport, if that does not happen it would be a missed opportunity as far as I’m concerned.

the suicide squad - will smith

Would you like to see Will Smith return as Deadshot? Let us know in the comments. If you like what you’ve read and can’t wait for more, follow us on our social media. Thank you for reading, and please don’t end up in jail. You really do not want to be forced into a government-sanctioned task force that has the word, suicide in their title, seriously, don’t commit any crimes.

KEEP READING: VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE REVIEW: THE MOST FUN SUPERHERO MOVIE OF 2021

Source: GQ via CBM

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Moriba Forde

I'm a writer, Co-Founder, and CEO of Moriviews. I live in Trinidad, I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology but my real passions lie in literature and content spanning across film & television. I've been a pretty good writer for most of my life and I grew up in front of a TV and loved it. I decided to make a career combining my literary and analytical skills, and one day, God-willingly, I'll be making my own movies.