Survivors of the Remaining Task Force X David Ayre Suicide Squad

Many of the original members of Task Force X from David Ayer's Suicide Squad were killed, but a few key members survived.

David Ayer's Suicide Squad introduced Suicide Squad, and while many members died in the 2016 film, several survived. Some of those survivors even appear in James Gunn's 2021 feature Suicide Squad. Others, however, were completely excluded from Gunn's iteration, but still opened up the possibility for survival.

Gunn's Suicide Squad was not a full sequel to Iyer. However, there are several returning characters, and it indirectly continues the broader storyline. Gunn's role as DCU creative lead could also mean that while the Suicide Squad's Ayer Cut may not see the light of day, that doesn't rule out the possibility of Suicide Squad characters returning at some point, whether it's those who survived suicide. The squad and those not included in the story.

Floyd Lawton/Deadshot

Recruited by Amanda Waller as the first member of Task Force X, Will Smith's Deadshot is portrayed as a trained weapons specialist, proficient in a range of weapons. Deadshot also brings an element of maturity to the team, as he serves as the de facto leader alongside Colonel Rick Flag. Deadshot's role in the successful 2016 mission meant He saw his daughter before being taken back to prison, but complications outside the DCU prevented him from reappearing in Gunn's film.

While the returning character Deadshot in Suicide Squad was a welcome addition, producer Peter Safran confirmed that Smith was unavailable at the time due to scheduling conflicts. While many of the original members of Suicide Squad expressed interest in returning and reprising their roles, their limited additions worked better for Suicide Squad, as they allowed Gunn to make a film that felt more unique. Smith's role as the main character of the squad is replaced by Idris Elba's bloody campaign, an equally charismatic lead casting choice.

Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn

Aside from Smith's Deadshot, Margot Robbie's Harlequin Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad is one of the film's most notable aspects, as their performance was an attempt to tie together a tonally chaotic project The glue that holds together. Quinn's potential romance with Deadshot is also a fairly accurate reflection of their relationship in the comics, as the two have been known to have had a brief romance.

As the only character to survive and return from the events of Suicide Squad in 2016 In Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn's lead role in Birds of Prey also shows how important the original members of Task Force X are going forward. Gunn has confirmed that Margot Robbie will return to play the role, which will be a huge win for the DCU due to her consistently captivating performances. While the Joker movies are still in DC's purview, they have no ties to the new James Gunn-led DCU, and Robbie's version of Harley Quinn isn't expected. However, a different Harley Quinn has been confirmed to appear in the Joker sequel, titled Joker: Folie à Deux.

Waylon Jones/Killer Croc

Described by Amanda Waller as a step backwards in human evolution due to his scaly appearance, Croc Killer plays a smaller role in Suicide Squad compared to Harley Quinn and Deadshot. However, the crocodile plays a key role in the film's finale, as he throws the dynamite that kills the Enchantress. In one of the most memorable one-liners in 2016's Suicide Squad, Croc asked the BET cable channel to keep him sober in prison.

David Ayer originally wanted to create a character that emphasized practicality rather than CGI, so Croc's character was intended to be replaced by the introduction of King Shark (also known as Nanaue). As captivating as Nanaue was in Suicide Squad, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's take on Killer Croc is also well received, which doesn't rule out a potentially brutal team-up in future DCU projects.

Dr. June Moone/Enchantress

Waller reveals Dr. June Moone's possessive alter ego Enchantress during the run of Suicide Squad. Waller thinks she can control the witch, which is a fatal mistake, because by the end of the film, Dr. Moon is completely compromised. However, she is still technically an original member of Task Force X. Waller further used Dr. Moon's character to exert influence over Rick Flagg, since she knew they were closely involved.

Cara Delevingne's incarnation of the Witch in Suicide Squad's Suicide Squad feels wasteful, as the supervillain's convoluted plan to resurrect her brother Nightmare leads to a forgettable "sky" The light beam in the "metaphor. The team eventually manages to defeat the Enchantress and save Dr. Moone. Her resurrection feels a bit unearned, especially considering it's unlikely the character will be revisited as the future of the DCU franchise evolves.

Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana

Katana, the Japanese assassin who killed Karen Fukuhara, was another member of the task force X feels underused. Ayer's vision for the katana was ultimately marred by the infamous Suicide Squad remake, as a deleted scene from the film revealed a more complex role for the character and his signature weapon, the Soultaker. Katana is the only member of the team who volunteers to serve as the protector of Rick's flag in Suicide Squad.

Ai Fukuhara's involvement with The Boys ruled out a potential return in The Suicide Squad due to overlapping production schedules for the projects. Even if she was available, Ai Fukuhara's katana sword likely wouldn't be in The Expendables, as Gunn's stated intention was simply to bring back the villain from the first film.

David Ayer's Suicide Squad was initially revealed to be promising, but the final product turned into a studio-controlled disaster. Despite its solid box office success, the film lacked a clear focus and was criticized. The decision to drop famous Task Force X members like Killer Croc and Katana in favor of bringing in complementary villains like Jared Leto's Joker made Suicide Squad a forgettable entry in the DCU. While it's convincing to finally get a glimpse of how Ayer's intended cut of the film was, Gunn's decision to focus on documenting future developments in the DCU rather than reintroducing past items was a prudent one.