Suicide Squad: Will Smith Confirms Deadshot Spinoff Movie Talks

Will Smith confirms that talks of a Suicide Squad spinoff movie focusing solely on Deadshot are ongoing. Shortly after launching the DC movie universe (unofficially titled the DC Extended Universe), Warner Bros. Pictures opted to quickly expand the burgeoning franchise with David Ayer’s Suicide Squad in summer 2016. It focused on the clandestine group known as Task Force X, which consists of anti-heroes and villains who perform tasks on behalf of the U.S. government in order to have their prison sentences reduced.

While the first Suicide Squad movie was undoubtedly a critical failure, it was also an irrefutable commercial success. It earned more than $745 million at the worldwide box office without even releasing in China – the world’s second largest moviegoing market that happens to keep several would-be box office disasters in the green. And so, the studio quickly started developing a sequel as well as multiple spinoff movies, of which one was going to be centered on Deadshot. Even though nothing has happened on that end, Smith is still very much interested in the idea.

Related: Suicide Squad 2 Writer Confirms Script is Finished

Shortly before bungee jumping down the Grand Canyon for his 50th birthday, Will Smith answered fan questions online (with the help of his former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star Alfonso Ribeiro). One of the questions was about a potential Deadshot spinoff movie, to which Smith responded enthusiastically, saying, “I hope so. I love playing Deadshot, I’ve really enjoyed that character. They’ve been talking about it, so if a good idea comes around… we’ve been having meetings. But I’d love to. I love Deadshot.”

It was reported earlier this year that Smith wasn’t attached to a Deadshot movie, which appears to be the case based on the actor’s comments. However, it’s particularly interesting that there are still talks ongoing for the idea of a Deadshot spinoff movie. Smith is obviously a well-rounded, well-known actor who can carry a standalone movie, and DC Films is already moving forward with their first Suicide Squad spinoff movie: Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey, which is being produced and headlined by Margot Robbie, who is reprising her DC role as Harley Quinn.

Regardless of whatever happens with the Deadshot movie, there are already plans in place for Smith to reprise his role as the notable DC character in Gavin O’Connor’s Suicide Squad 2, which has been progressing quite smoothly behind the scenes this year, with a recent script draft being turned into WB earlier this month. However, it was also recently reported that Smith would be filming Bright 2 and Bad Boys 3 before returning to the DCEU, so there’s quite a bit that’s unclear at the moment, but what is clear is that Smith inevitably wants to return as Deadshot.

More: DC Characters Who Should Join The Team In Suicide Squad 2