With Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice having been unleashed, DC superfans are looking to the future of DC’s Extended Universe and the further adventures of the Justice League. But before the League assembles, David Ayer’s anti-justice league picture – now with more Bat – is scheduled to flip the DCEU on its head. Suicide Squad offers an interesting counterpoint to the otherwise superhero-oriented Warner/DC slate of releases, at least in characters if not in tone.

After criticisms about the gloomy feel of Batman V Superman, rumors have swirled around a recent spate of Suicide Squad reshoots. Initial speculation was that Ayer and company were trying to liven up the film, but Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang) has refuted these rumors to a degree and extolled director Ayer’s capabilities.

In a recent interview with Collider about the forthcoming documentary, Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story, Courtney claims the reshoots primarily consisted of “some additional action stuff, which is pretty dope.” The actor also described working with Suicide Squads’ director and his abilities. He says the director was “psychotic,” especially with regards to his meticulous nature and the way he puts his cast on edge:

“He’s one of the greats. I think he has an amazing future ahead of him, and I hope we get to work together again. I have nothing but admiration for him, and small amounts of fear. That about sums it up. He loves that attention to detail, and he’s not interested in comfort. Nothing is about making anything easy for anyone. And that’s not about making it hard, it’s just that when you’re off center, it creates a space for wonderful things to happen. That’s the world he likes to play in, and I think that’s very exciting.”

Courtney’s fervor for the upcoming picture is palpable. Of course, actors usually talk up their next picture, but his praise for the director, cast, and film comes across as genuine. The actor also says the “camaraderie on set” created a “familial experience for all of us [cast and crew].” His appreciation for the production echoed sentiments made by actor/rapper Common recently, who said he wanted to be a part of the “special” atmosphere around the atypical comic book film. Courtney also delves into what makes Suicide Squad unique to him:

Although the world of comic books has plenty of anti-heroes (Judge Dredd, Deadpool, Watchmen, et al.), Suicide Squad is unusual because it cobbles together a team of villains for a well-intentioned purpose – upending the supervillain/superhero dynamic. The film also features fun B-list villains like Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Courtney’s Captain Boomerang, in addition to established heavies like Deadshot (Will Smith) Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and the Joker (Jared Leto). Ayer’s choice to work on the film makes sense, due to his predilection for darker-tinged, action-heavy films like Street Kings. If he’s as thorough as Courtney suggests, and capable of wringing top-notch performances from his diverse cast, Suicide Squad has the potential to be this year’s DCEU standout.

“The boundaries we’re pushing within that genre. It’s so hard to talk about without saying anything, and as you know, I can’t say anything. I think people can see from the material that is out there that there is something new and exciting that they haven’t seen within this realm that Suicide Squad will offer. We’re all just pumped to share that with the world.”

Batman V Superman’s lukewarm reception had to weigh heavily on Warner Bros/DC’s mind as the reshoots commenced. Initial promos and glimpses from Suicide Squad’s trailer already hint at a healthy balance between action and humor, in addition to the naturally dark tone of a do-gooder supervillain flick. If Suicide Squad succeeds at walking that fine line between intensity and fun, Warner Bros./DC may have a late-summer hit on their hands – which could set the DCEU back on course.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is now playing in U.S. theaters. Suicide Squad will arrive on August 5, 2016, followed by Wonder Woman on June 2, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017; The Flash on March 16, 2018; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; an untitled DC Film on October 5, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14, 2019; an untitled DC film on November 1, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on June 19, 2020.

Source: Collider