Will Smith’s DC Superhero Dream Can Still Happen Despite The DCU Reboot

James Gunn’s DCU can still bring back Will Smith’s Deadshot and give him the Suicide Squad spinoff the actor originally wanted. From David Corenswet’s Superman and Milly Alcock’s Supergirl to The Brave and the Bold‘s Batman and a yet-to-be-cast Wonder Woman, the DCU will introduce a new set of DC characters in both animation and live-action. However, various DCEU characters have survived the DCU reboot — mostly those related to James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad: John Cena’s Peacemaker, Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, Sean Gunn’s Weasel, among others.

The Suicide Squad was itself a soft-reboot of Suicide Squad. Characters such as Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang appear to be the same version of the characters in both movies, but The Suicide Squad doesn’t directly reference the events of the first movie. Now that DCU projects like Creature Commandos recontextualize DCEU titles like The Suicide Squad within the DCU continuity, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad now appears to fit within the latter franchise instead of the former.

Why Will Smith Left His Deadshot Role

Will Smith Almost Reprised His DCEU Role Before Leaving The Franchise

Back in 2016, a spinoff centered on Will Smith’s Deadshot was being discussed despite Suicide Squad‘s mixed reception. A Suicide Squad sequel had also been confirmed as soon as the first installment came out. However, Will Smith had to drop out of his Deadshot role due to scheduling conflicts. As Suicide Squad 2 changed titles and directors, Will Smith played his Academy Award-winning role in King Richard. In the wake of Will Smith’s absence, James Gunn decided to switch Deadshot for Bloodsport, with Idris Elba playing the new marksman.

Deadshot’s current whereabouts are unknown, though a DCU version of the anti-hero likely exists somewhere out there

The fact that The Suicide Squad never acknowledged Will Smith’s Deadshot left his fate ambiguous and made it possible for him to return in an eventual sequel, but of course, the DCEU continued to go through various challenges that led to the end of the franchise in 2023. While the DCU’s Creature Commandos, Waller, and Peacemaker season 2 are slowly recanonizing the events of The Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad‘s plot and characters remain unacknowledged. In the meantime, Deadshot’s current whereabouts are unknown, though a DCU version of the anti-hero likely exists somewhere out there.

Will Smith Revealed He Wanted To Return As Deadshot

Will Smith Has A Clear Passion For His DCEU Anti-Hero

Throughout the years, Will Smith has expressed his interest in starring in a Deadshot solo movie. On his YouTube channel, Will Smith has said, “I hope so. I love playing Deadshot. I really enjoyed that character,” and when the DCEU’s Deadshot spinoff was still in early development, Smith revealed, “They’ve been talking about it. So if a good idea comes around, we’ve been having meetings. But I would love to. I love Deadshot”. As an A-list leading man, Will Smith has everything he needs to star in a successful DC solo film.

Speaking to GQ in 2021, Will Smith also expressed his interest in playing a powerful Black superhero, saying, “I wanted to depict Black excellence alongside my white counterparts. I wanted to play roles that you would give to Tom Cruise.” Following the success of Black Panther, a Will Smith vehicle centered around one of Gotham’s deadliest assassins seems like a winning movie concept. Well into the DCU’s first chapter already, Will Smith may still be interested in reprising his DCEU role.

James Gunn’s DCU Reboot Should Revive Smith’s Deadshot For His Own Movie

Will Smith’s Deadshot Spinoff Is Still Possible Within James Gunn’s DCU

Just like John Cena’s Chris Smith joined the DCU despite the Justice League’s cameo in the Peacemaker finale and Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller is starring in her own DCU show despite leading Task Force X in the DCEU’s Suicide Squad, Will Smith’s Deadshot could easily get his own DCU movie or series soon as well. The success of Batman-adjacent villain solo projects like Todd Phillips’ Joker and Lauren LeFranc’s The Penguin also supports the idea that a Deadshot solo movie could thrive. Clayface is already pioneering villain-led Batman movies in James Gunn’s DCU parallel to similar DC Elseworlds projects.

The narrative foundations for a Deadshot movie already exist. In David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, a flashback scene revealed that Batman apprehended Deadshot in front of his daughter, which led Deadshot to hate Batman. Deadshot’s backstory would gel well with James Gunn’s penchant for father-child stories, as seen in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and Peacemaker. Batman’s involvement in Deadshot likely wouldn’t be a problem, as Superman and the Justice League’s references in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker will be ignored in the DCU.

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