Benicio Del Toro Rumored For 'Suicide Squad,' 'Supergirl' May Begin Production Next Year

As the DC Extended Universe continues to make up ground on Marvel Studios in terms of box office maximization and cultural foothold, new casting announcements and rumors are providing clarity on what the universe’s future will look like.

According to Forbes, the new iteration of “The Suicide Squad” – directed by “Guardians of the Galaxy’s” James Gunn – may be adding Oscar winner Benicio del Toro to a cast that has already nailed down the returns of Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, and Jai Courtney. Del Toro is reportedly being considered for the character of The General, which Geeks WorldWide alleges is one of the upcoming movie’s antagonists.

Joining Del Toro is Idris Elba, this, we know, but Forbes says he may be linked to play Bronze Tiger, a character who has appeared on The CW’s “The Arrow” in recent years. That news comes after Elba was recently revealed not to be taking the vacated Deadshot role once held by Will Smith. All signs point to the actor playing a new character, and perhaps that’s the Tiger.

Elba and Del Toro are two actors with the unique caliber of magnetism that comic book movies have only recently begun to go after, and having the two of them on-screen together would be a treat. Both would be making the transition from the MCU, having played the roles of Heimdall and The Collector, respectively.

With the potential additions of David Dastmalchian, John Cena, but not frequent Gunn collaborator Michael Rooker (who denied the rumors of his casting), the cast of “The Suicide Squad” is looking to be a who’s who of individual enigmatic pieces that bring a variety of acting chops to the table. But if there’s one thing the “Guardians” films have proven, the director can make each personality stand out and have their moment to shine.

Rounding out the DCEU developments – and fortifying an exciting slate of upcoming movies that include Gunn’s aforementioned project, “Birds of Prey” and “Wonder Woman 1984” – is the news that a big-screen iteration of “Supergirl” is “tentatively expected” to begin production early next year. This news may mean casting info soon, and it’s already rumored that a female director is being considered. With Comic-Con around the corner, who knows, maybe those announcements will come in July.

Oren Uziel – who wrote “The Cloverfield Paradox” and “22 Jump Street” – penned the script, and so, let’s keep an ear out for developments. After the recent announcement that Robert Pattinson will be the next actor to don Batman’s cowl, as well as Warner Bros. shifting its focus away from Superman, the rumor mill over who will being Supergirl to the big screen for the first time should be churning loudly over the next few months and weeks. Speaking of the Batman, Forbes also mentions rumors that Robin and the Riddler could appear in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” but I guess we shall see.