The Suicide Squad from Warner Bros. and James Gunn recently released a new trailer, giving fans a closer look at the return of Harley Quinn and Rick Flagg. It also introduced new characters, such as Superman villains Bloodsport and Mongal, with the former filling a similar thematic role as the first movie's Deadshot. Other more obscure villains are also given a spotlight, most notably Ratcatcher 2.
Played by Daniela Melchior, Ratcatcher is an original version of a niche but classic DC villain. A scene at the end of the trailer introduces Ratcatcher's nickname, and the throwaway line works as a double entendre homage to a Disney movie. Here's the story behind The Suicide Squad's mousiest member and how her literal pet name signifies this.
Who Is Ratcatcher 2?
The Ratcatcher in the comics was a villain named Otis Flannegan, and as his name might suggest, his modus operandi involved controlling and manipulating that rather pesky breed of vermin, rats. Introduced in the Post-Crisis continuity, the character never found much time in the limelight in either comics or other media. In fact, the character's only real role in an animated series was in the recent Harley Quinn.
The version in The Suicide Squad is not Otis, but an as yet unnamed female variation. This woman is reported by some as being the original Ratcatcher's daughter, which would explain her designation of "Ratcatcher 2." This signifier also plays into a nickname heard in the film's most recent trailer. In a scene where Rick Flagg talks to the Squad via comm links, he refers to Ratcatcher 2 as "Ratatouille." Likely a derisive reference to the nature of her power, the moniker actually works as a Disney-referencing double entendre to those abilities.
Why Ratatouille Is a Perfect Codename for Ratcatcher 2
As mentioned, Ratcatcher's skills and abilities involve being able to communicate with and control rats. The Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille, which itself was a play on words referencing the dish of the same name and the animal in the first syllable, also revolved around a rat communicating with a human chef. Thus, Flagg could be making an off-handed homage to the movie and its premise when he speaks to Ratcatcher and gives her this codename.
In addition to her rat-controlling powers, Ratatouille also phonetically sounds like Ratcatcher 2, which makes the choice of that numeration even more logical. It's possible that the joke could go further, with Ratcatcher even having loyal pet rats that she lovingly dotes on. This could help to develop and ground the character that, based on the trailer, seems to have a larger and more emotional role than expected.
This could even be a reference to the fact that Gunn directed the Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Disney. In doing so, it's also a subtle jab at the Marvel vs. DC fandom rivalry, in perhaps the most unexpected way. If nothing else, The Suicide Squad's Ratatouille/Ratcatcher connection is an unusually cute allusion made for one of DC's grungiest villains.
Written and directed by James Gunn, The Suicide Squad stars Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Michael Rooker as Savant, Flula Borg as Javelin, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, Mayling NG as Mongal, Peter Capaldi as The Thinker, Alice Braga as Solsoria, Sylvester Stallone as King Shark, Pete Davidson as Blackguard, Nathan Fillion as TDK, Sean Gunn as Weasel, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, John Cena as Peacemaker and Steve Agee, Taika Waititi and Storm Reid. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max Aug. 6.