James Gunn Clarifies “The Suicide Squad’s” Canon Status in the DC Universe

by E-G January 22, 2025

Is The Suicide Squad set in the DC Universe? James Gunn has clarified the film’s canon status in relation to other DC projects. According to Gunn, only Creature Commandos and the projects moving forward are considered pure canon. The Suicide Squad is seen as an “imperfect memory” that may not align perfectly with the established canon. This revelation raises questions about the fates of certain characters, such as Captain Boomerang and Mongal, and whether they may return in the future. The Suicide Squad is currently available for streaming on Max.

James Gunn Clarifies “The Suicide Squad’s” Canon Status in the DC Universe

– James Gunn clarifies that The Suicide Squad is not entirely canon to the DC Universe, describing it as an “imperfect memory.”
– Only the events depicted in Creature Commandos are considered pure canon.
– The nebulous canon status of The Suicide Squad could affect the portrayal and return of certain characters in the DC Universe.

Is The Suicide Squad set in the DC Universe? James Gunn has provided clarification on the canon status of his latest film and its relationship to the DC Studios reboot.

The new DC Studios regime has brought along some confusion regarding the canon of the DC Universe. While James Gunn has previously mentioned that the reboot will be a clean slate, certain actors, like John Cena and Viola Davis, are set to reprise their roles in upcoming projects such as Peacemaker. Additionally, events from The Suicide Squad have been referenced in Creature Commandos, further complicating the understanding of the DC Universe’s timeline.

Fortunately, James Gunn has addressed these concerns and shed light on how The Suicide Squad ties into Creature Commandos. In a recent post on BlueSky, the director described his previous two projects as “imperfect memories,” getting some elements right while others seem to be inaccurately portrayed.

In response to a fan’s question about the canonicity of The Suicide Squad in relation to Creature Commandos, Gunn clarified, “Short answer: Only Creature Commandos forward is pure canon. For instance, Rick Flag Jr was killed because we heard Rick Flag Sr talking about it in Creature Commandos, not because we saw it in The Suicide Squad.”

Expanding on his previous statement, Gunn stated, “Long answer: Only [Creature Commandos] forward is pure canon; Peacemaker is almost entirely consistent with that canon, except for the inclusion of the Justice League. The Suicide Squad has many consistencies, but I consider it an imperfect memory.”

Gunn’s clarification finally brings clarity to the often confusing canon of the DC Universe, aligning with his previous statements since he took over DC Studios. However, this partial canonicity of The Suicide Squad raises questions about its impact on other projects within the DC Universe, particularly concerning characters like Harley Quinn.

One significant consequence of The Suicide Squad’s limited canon status is that key characters in the film may not have died, including beloved characters like Captain Boomerang, Mongal, and The Detachable Kid, portrayed by Jai Courtney and other actors. If these characters were to make future appearances, it is likely that they would be played by different actors.

For fans looking for answers about the DC Universe’s canon and the future of its characters, James Gunn’s latest clarification provides some much-needed insight. The Suicide Squad is now available for streaming on Max, and fans can expect further updates on the DC Universe’s direction.