Suicide Squad Comic Creator Confirmed Role in James Gunn’s Movie Revealed
Comic book writer and creator of the modern day Suicide Squad John Ostrander has a part in James Gunn's upcoming The Suicide Squad. Following the disappointing reception to 2016's Suicide Squad, Warner Bros. looks to reinvent the property with Gunn's colorful film. The Suicide Squad is a strange cross between a sequel and a reboot, in that Gunn and others have said it stands separate from 2016's film, but several characters will return. Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), and Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) will appear alongside a slew of newcomers making up the new Task Force X.
Gunn has been open about his passion for the Suicide Squad and read significant amounts of source material to prepare for the film. Thanks to his work on films like Guardians of the Galaxy, fans feel particularly confident in Gunn's ability to do the Suicide Squad justice. Already, The Suicide Squad looks to be an homage to both the original comics and the modern issues, the latter of which Ostrander is responsible for.
In recent days, new first look images for The Suicide Squad have been released, and an eagle-eyed fan spotted a rather important cameo in one of them. Ostrander was glimpsed standing beside Savant (Michael Rooker), and Gunn confirmed he has a role in The Suicide Squad. "Yes, John Ostrander - the creator of the late ‘80’s Squad in the comics - who just happens to have started in the entertainment industry as an actor (he’s really good!) - plays Dr. Fitzgibbon in the #TheSuicideSquad," wrote Gunn.
That Ostrander actually has a name in The Suicide Squad could indicate he has a more sizable role than just a quick cameo, though it should be noted that the name "Fitzgibbon" is one that Gunn tends to incorporate into most of his films. Either way, including Ostrander in The Suicide Squad is a nice way to pay homage to his work, and it shows just how much Gunn wanted to honor the source material. Comic book fans should enjoy seeing Ostrander among the characters he had a hand in writing.
Ostrander's presence is also special because Gunn has previously said the story within The Suicide Squad was inspired by his comics run. It's been recently revealed that The Suicide Squad will see the titular team embark on a mission to recover something from a Nazi-era prison and lab, which they later destroy. Clearly, Gunn's done well in channeling Ostrander's work, otherwise he might not have opted to be involved. So far, The Suicide Squad is shaping up to be the DC film fans have long wanted to see from the property, and hopefully it lives up to expectations.
Source: James Gunn/Twitter