August is near and that means this summer's most anticipated film, "Suicide Squad," is almost upon us (August 5). With
predictions seeing the film earning "anywhere from $100 million to $125 million," this indicates the flick will greatly surpass August's former record-breaker, "Guardians of the Galaxy," which made $94.3 million.
The "Suicide Squad," for those who may not be comic book purveyors, are a ragtag team of super-villains and anti-heroes ordered to carry out dangerous black-ops missions for the government. Why would these villains put their lives at risk for the system responsible for their capture? Commuted sentences, that's why. It actually does make sense (unlike most superhero origins), and we're all hoping the movie does the comic justice and that it lives up to the hype.
To get you better acquainted with this dysfunctional superteam, we've provided a synopsis on each of the characters you will find in the film aside from the Joker, because if you don't know who he is, you probably shouldn't bother watching the movie and your man card should be revoked, indefinitely.
Harley Quinn
Played by:
Margot Robbie![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Harley Quinn is one of the more recent villains to inhabit Gotham, having made her impressionable debut on the Emmy Award-winning "Batman: The Animated Series." Harley's origins are rooted in love. More specifically, her amorous feelings toward her most notorious patient,
the Joker.
Dr. Harleen Quinzel (pre-Joker) was once a respected psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, an institution that housed Gotham's most lethal lawbreakers. However, her feelings for Gotham's most dangerous criminal led her to irrationally flee the practice and join the sadistic clown as an assistant in his violent crimes and the most lusted after member of the Suicide Squad.
Deadshot
Played by: Will Smith
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Deadshot (Floyd Lawton) has had it rough. As a kid, he idolized his brother because their father was a deadbeat and incredibly abusive. On one occasion, when Deadshot's father attacked his brother, Deadshot took aim at his father with his own rifle. When the rifle shot however, the branch Deadshot was sitting on broke, causing the bullet to strike and kill his brother. Later in life, Deadshot's son was murdered by a sadistic killer named Wes Ansel.
Understandably, he's become something of a loner as a result. However, Deadshot's greatest asset to the Suicide Squad is that he's earned the accolade as the world's greatest marksman.
Rick Flag
Played by: Joel Kinnaman
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Rick Flag is the reluctant leader of Task Force X (aka: the Suicide Squad). Flag, an elite soldier of the military, was recruited to lead the Suicide Squad for the sole reason than his father led an earlier iteration of the group.
Because of the successes of previous Suicide Squad missions, Waller (who is the true authority of the Squad) believed the concept was worth resurrecting and that Flag was the safest bet to serve as the group's ground leader. As for Flag's powers, he doesn't really have any. He's in peak physical shape and professionally trained in firearms, hand-to-hand combat, aviation, etc. A supersoldier, if you will.
Captain Boomerang
Played by: Jai Courtney
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Captain Boomerang (George Harkness) is Australian. He's also a drunk, racist criminal whose powers revolve around throwing objects similar to a boomerang. Yes, that's about it. He is, without a doubt, the sleaziest member of the Suicide Squad and the occasional nemesis to Deadshot.
Employed by a toy company, Harkness' job was to showcase his uncanny throwing arm in front of audiences to promote product. Understandably, people made fun of him for this useless talent. As a result, he left his job and became a villain in retaliation and was eventually scooped up by the Suicide Squad.
El Diablo
Played by: Jay Hernandez
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Chato Santana and his gang were busted by police and Santana was shot. In the hospital, Santana comes in contact with the original cadaver possessed by the demon, El Diablo (who grants the ability of pyrokinesis) where these powers were transferred to Santana. These powers were seen as a great asset to the Suicide Squad (after setting fire to a building and killing everybody inside), and he was coerced to join.
Killer Croc
Played by: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) was born with an extremely rare medical condition known as Epidermolytic hyperkatosis, which caused his appearance to turn into that of a crocodile. Having been abandoned by his father and killing his mother in childbirth, Croc was raised by his abusive, alcoholic aunt. He would later be arrested as a result of his brutish upbringing and murdered a fellow inmate who mocked his appearance.
After he was released, he found a job in a carnival sideshow where he'd appropriately wrestle alligators. It wasn't long before Croc realized that there was MUCH more money in crime, so he became Gotham's most powerful underground villain instead.
Enchantress
Played by:
Cara Delevingne![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Enchantress (June Moone) was invited to a luxe costume party at an old castle where she carelessly left the party quarters and stumbled into a secret chamber. In said chamber, a mystical being known as Dzamor grants her -- a piddling freelance artist -- powers to defeat an evil presence in the castle.
With these powers (and quoting the words "The Enchantress") Moone becomes a powerful sorceress (which she believes to be evil; think: Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde) and has destroyed various demonic creatures under this formidable guise.
Katana
Played by: Karen Fukuhara
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Katana (Tatsu Yamashiro) is one of the less animated Suicide Squad members and was recruited to help keep the team in line.
An expert samurai, Katana has the ability to trap souls in her sword, which she's aptly named "the Soultaker." This coveted sword also houses the soul of her husband, who fell victim to the weapon while it was in someone else's hands. As a result, Katana is able to communicate with her husband through the weapon. While not inherently evil like most of her compatriots, Katana is second to none when it comes to hand-to-hand combat.
Slipknot
Played by: Adam Beach
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
Slipknot worked for a chemical company where he developed a first-of-its-kind formula for unbreakable ropes -- ropes he would later use under the alias Slipknot. After being arrested for an attack on Firestorm, Slipknot was recruited by the Suicide Squad for his incomparable and lethal talents with rope.
As one of the lesser trusted members of the Suicide Squad, Slipknot and Captain Boomerang were fastened with "armband bombs" which were set to detonate if either party ventured too far out of range. Informed they were fake, Slipknot tests the parameters and loses his arm to the bomb's blast. He was found near-dead, and had his arm replaced with a bionic prosthetic.
Amanda Waller
Played by: Viola Davis
![Get Better Acquainted With The 'Suicide Squad' Before The Film's Release]()
She may not look it, but Waller is the scariest character associated with "Suicide Squad." During her tenure as a congressional aide, Waller is the government authority responsible for the Suicide Squad.
Despite many successes as the group's authority, Waller would often defy her superiors in order to achieve goals (personal and otherwise) on many occasions. Her relationship with the Squad itself was one of mutual dislike. Despite boasting no hero-like abilities aside from her sheer ruthlessness, Waller is enough of a threat to keep all members of the Suicide Squad in line.
But mainly see it for her: Margot Robbie Sizzles As Harley Quinn In The Newest Suicide Squad Promo
