STACK #202 Aug 2021

FEATURE CINEMA

Idris Elba and director James Gunn

She’s either been very committed to Mr. J or just fresh out of a break-up with Mr. J, and James inserted a lot of funny potential love interests throughout the film, which don’t always end well, obviously,” she warns. Pitting John Cena’s

[which] makes for some unique moments,” says Cena, whose Peacemaker costume – featuring a pair of snug-fitting “tighty whities” – created much debate and hilarity on set. Casting Sly Stallone as King Shark was perhaps Gunn’s most audacious hire. Ask Stallone how he relates to his character, he says, “I like that he’s on a high-protein diet, it works for muscle definition. And I think he’s actually more intelligible than I am. He has less of a slur. “I’m a big fan of seafood but when I was offered this I thought, ‘Oh well, how do I pass on this?’ I would have preferred to play a grouper, but I’ll take what I can get,” he deadpans. Gunn talks us through how he baited the Rambo and Rocky star: “I called him and said, ‘Sly! I wrote this role for you!’ And he goes, ‘What is it?’ And I said, ‘It’s a really stupid shark!’” Stallone has the last word: “It’s great and I appreciate it. I owe you James. In the next Rambo, you’re the next victim, for sure.”

Peacemaker against Elba’s Bloodsport proved a genius move: “When you read the script, you see the natural rivalry between John and I and the natural dynamics of the whole team,” explains Elba. While both actors became fast friends on set, Cena revelled in their onscreen rivalry. “James cast a very wide net and everyone’s superhero personalities are distinctly

Idris,’” reveals Gunn, who has populated his movie with a host of forgotten DC characters including Sylvester Stallone’s King Shark, Nathan Fillion’s T.D.K and Mayling Ng’s Mongal. Marking her third outing

as Harley Quinn, Margot Robbie tells us, “I loved getting to play a Harley who is in the mindset of ‘single and ready to mingle’. I haven’t played that version of Harley before.

definable, except for Bloodsport and Peacemaker. They’re of the same skill set and that really fuels their one-upmanship. They both want to battle for that alpha position

FURTHER VIEWING

The Suicide Squad is in cinemas on August 5

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