According to The Suicide Squad director James Gunn, the upcoming DC Extended Universe film is more of a direct sequel to the 1980s comics than it is to the 2016 movie.
Speaking with ComicBook.com, the similarities between the film and John Ostrander's Suicide Squad were brought up to Gunn, who noted some scenes in the movie were identical to those in the comic. "What I think from [John Ostrander], it wasn't really 'getting scenes' from John as it was just the tone and the premise of the entire thing," Gunn explained. "I mean, I do think of this move as being a sequel to John Ostrander's stories from the late '80s."
Ostrander's original Suicide Squad series began in May 1987 and ran until its cancellation in June of 1992. The series would go on to be featured in other publications and spawned several other volumes, though Gunn credits Ostrander's work as being the influence he wanted to stick to. "It's a bunch of Z-grade superheroes who are thought of as disposable by the U.S. government and put out on suicidal missions -- Black Ops operations around the world," he continued. "And really really just sticking to that central premise and keeping that there was what was important to me."
Gunn also noted the primary reason The Suicide Squad exists in the same universe as David Ayer's 2016 adaptation was because of Ayer's casting for several of the characters' roles. "The truth is that David Ayer did a remarkable job, both working with and casting a few of these actors," he said. "I love the character of Harley Quinn. I do not think that there is an actor alive that can do a better job than Margot Robbie."
This isn't the first time those involved with the production of The Suicide Squad have commented on the sequel vs. reboot debate. "The Suicide Squad is the Suicide Squad from the brain of one of the most amazingly twisted creative minds in James Gunn that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting," Peacemaker actor John Cena explained. Rick Flag actor Joel Kinnaman shared similar comments, saying, "This film lives in a world somewhere between a sequel and a reboot," the actor said. "... It really feels like a completely new universe."
Written and directed by Gunn, The Suicide Squad will arrive in both theaters and on HBO Max Aug. 6.
Source: ComicBook.com