It was only last week that we learned that Will Smith won’t be returning for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, and now comes some interesting news on Smith’s Deadshot role.

Upon hearing that initial news, many presumed that we simply wouldn’t be seeing Deadshot in this Suicide Squad sequel-cum-reboot. There was, however, a mild rumbling that the role might instead be recast. And that is indeed the case.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers has brought in Luther star Idris Elba to replace Smith as Floyd Lawton. Of course, this won’t be Elba’s first time working on a comic book-based property, with him previously having appeared in The Losers and played Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The reason for Will Smith not returning for The Suicide Squad – yes, the sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad is title The Suicide Squad – was simply down to scheduling issues. Similarly, Margot Robbie won’t be a part of the follow-up, although she is very much still playing Harley Quinn in Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey picture. As for the rest of Suicide Squad’s cast, they are all expected to be returning for this second cinematic outing for Task Force X.

At present, James Gunn is writing The Suicide Squad and is expected to be on directing duties, too. The film will definitely be a sequel, although it is also being pegged as a soft reboot for the burgeoning franchise.

The Suicide Squad is currently booked in for an August 2021 release.