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It’s being reported that Mel Gibson has emerged as a candidate to direct Suicide Squad 2 for Warner Bros., who has entered into talks with the Oscar-winning director and actor.
The report states that these talks are very early, and Gibson is only one of the directors being looked at for the job. Another is Safe House, Child 44, and Life director Daniel Espinosa.
No official offers have been made yet, and Gibson is currently looking at the material and getting familiar with it before deciding if it’s something that he might be interested in pursuing.
Gibson is currently on a comeback tour of sorts after some years out of the Hollywood picture. His most recent film, Hacksaw Ridge, is nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Gibson.
Though best known as an actor Gibson has established himself as a top talent behind the camera over the years as well, despite only having actually directed—believe it or not—five total feature films. Those being The Man Without a Face, The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and of course Braveheart, which won five Oscars including two for Gibson for Best Director and Best Picture.
Because of his few feature directorial credits and the type of movies he usually makes, him even considering taking on Suicide Squad 2 is quite the surprise. And it would be downright shocking if he actually signed on for the job. And let’s face it, things have not been all sunshine and rainbows with directors in the lands of the DC Extended Universe. But perhaps in this latest chapter of Gibson’s career he’s looking to shake things up a bit, add some variety to his resume as both a director and actor.
In fact, the Suicide Squad news was first reported by Deadline, who mentioned it in a story about Gibson signing on to star in the sequel to the Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell comedy Daddy’s Home. It’s his first studio title since 2010’s Edge Of Darkness and his first studio sequel since Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. In it, he will play the father of Wahlberg’s character, while John Lithgow has signed on to play the father of Ferrell’s character.
The Hollywood Reporter later expanded on the news with word that Gibson was in early talks and was currently getting familiar with the material.
Just the fact that WB is considering a Suicide Squad sequel at all is interesting enough. The first one had a ton of positive buzz around it, with fans excited for what looked like a fun departure from the usual superhero fare. With a great director and cast, it seemed like a sure winner—something badly needed in a shared cinematic universe that’s struggled to rise above mediocrity in the ever-growing shadow of rival Marvel’s immense success. But sadly it, like the other recent DC movies, it failed to live up to the hype for many. That said, cash is king, and the movie did make $745.6 million worldwide on an estimated $175 million budget, so there’s that too.
Time will tell if a deal will be made here, but for me it’s right up there in the stranger directorial possibilities along with Frank Darabont making Snow White and the Huntsman 2 (which he eventually departed) and David Fincher directing World War Z 2, which he still seems to be interested in at the moment.
If David Fincher directs World War Z 2, that’s it for me. Anything is possible after that. Mel Gibson could direct Suicide Squad 2. Ava DuVernay could direct The Expendables 4. Clint Eastwood could direct a live-action My Little Pony movie. Nothing would be shocking. OK…maybe that last one would be a tiny bit shocking.
Ever since he made his Hitleresque tirade I boycott all things Mel Gibson. As a fan of DC and superhero movies in general I find this news quite upsetting.
Comment by UNCARING1 — February 17, 2017 @ 5:33 pm