There are still a lot of questions surrounding James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, as Warner Bros. has thus far remained fairly silent about just what's going on in the film. However, from what Warner Bros. has released so far, there are a few indications that Task Force X is going to change its operating procedure in one major way, as footage hints the team will be public knowledge in the DC Extended Universe.
Evidence for this theory comes from the behind-the-scenes look at The Suicide Squad shown during DC FanDome, which features a lot more daylight scenes than the 2016 film. While in that film Amanda Waller kept Task Force X a secret, a number of scenes in the footage for The Suicide Squad give the impression the group is operating more openly. One notable scene shows several members of the Squad marching heroically in front of an American flag, though such big names as Harley Quinn are conspicuously absent. While this scene could very well take place at film's conclusion, it's entirely possible this is part of some promo shot for Task Force X.
Such a promo shot could be used to advertise the Squad to the general public and thus curry favor for allowing criminals to go on dangerous missions in exchange for their freedom. An over-the-top, almost hilariously patriotic video, one featuring militarized supervillains, no less, would also certainly be right up comedic director James Gunn's alley.
Adding evidence to this theory is the upcoming spinoff TV series starring Peacemaker. While it's still unclear whether Peacemaker takes place before or after The Suicide Squad, the former is entirely possible, and the show might even work to set up Task Force X going public. Given Peacemaker's nature as a sort of warped Uncle Sam/Captain America figure, the Squad could absolutely be using him in promotional materials to smooth over the idea of former criminals being used as soldiers by the military.
The Suicide Squad operating publically isn't unheard of. During John Ostrander's Post-Crisis revitalization of the team, Task Force X operated as a black-ops military wetworks team for around the first two years of publication. However, Waller wasn't able to keep the team under wraps forever due to political meddling. This led to Task Force X going public and eventually becoming seen as heroic for some of its work in helping people. Waller, for her part, publically relinquished control of the Squad, though she kept pulling its strings privately.
There are reports Ostrander's iconic run on the team, which saw him working with such artists as Kim Yale, Grant Miehm and Luke McDonnell, will inform the film. While the extent to which Gunn's film might draw from the that run is unknown at this time, Ostrander has a role in The Suicide Squad, so it seems likely his work at least plays some role. So as Peacemaker and the DC FanDome footage suggests, this might mean Task Force X will be public knowledge in The Suicide Squad.
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, Steve Agee as King Shark, Pete Davidson as Blackguard, Nathan Fillion as TDK, Sean Gunn as Weasel, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, John Cena as Peacemaker, Taika Waititi and Storm Reid. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on Aug. 6.
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