The trailer for James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” looks surprisingly good.
The first trailer for “The Suicide Squad” was released on Friday, and the forthcoming DC Extended Universe film appears to be nothing like its frightening predecessor.
The 2016 film, starring Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Viola Davis, and David Harbour, grossed $746.8 million worldwide, but it was panned by critics.
On RottenTomatoes, director David Ayer’s film currently has a 26 percent rating, and critic Kyle Smith of The Washington Post wrote in his review, “What appeared to be a Super Bowl of villainy turned out more like toddler playtime.”
Now, James Gunn, the director of Marvel’s iconic “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, has rebooted the DC franchise — no, it’s not a sequel — by injecting his trademark humor and only holding Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Davis’ Amanda Waller, and Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang. The majority of the villains are new to the Squad, and Will Smith is noticeably absent due to scheduling conflicts.

Bloodsport (Idris Elba) and Peacemaker (John Cena) are among the new cast members, as are Blackguard (Pete Davidson), Thinker (Peter Capaldi), and King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone).
In comparison to Zack Snyder’s recent sooty “Justice League” recut, Warner Bros.’ jungle-set reboot — which is expected to be rated R — also appears to be much more vibrant than the muddy 2016 film.
On August 6, “The Suicide Squad” will be released in theaters and on HBO Max.