Following yesterday’s news that Warner Brothers were eyeing Mel Gibson to direct their Suicide Squad sequel, the actor-turned-director has now confirmed that talks are indeed ongoing.

Speaking at a screening of Hacksaw Ridge (as reported by Batman-News), Gibson confirmed that he and Warners are in the “Kind of a first date” phase of negotiations.

In addition to Gibson, Variety is reporting that The WB have several other names in consideration to helm the follow-up to David Ayer’s 2016 villain-centric movie. According to that report, the other names in the frame are Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer, Safe House’s Daniel Espinosa, and 50/50’s Jonathan Levine. This isn’t the first time that some of these names have been tied to the superhero realm, with Fleischer previously in talks to direct Justice League – which will be released this November as directed by Zack Snyder – while Levine had been up for both Doctor Strange and July’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Given that David Ayer is already confirmed to be directing the Margot Robbie-fronted Gotham City Sirens, it’s likely that he hasn’t got room in his schedule for the Suicide Squad sequel, hence why Warner Brothers is looking at alternatives – with two-time Oscar winner Gibson heading the pack of potential replacements.

With Scottish legends and brutalizing Jesus Chris in his rearview mirror, Gibson most recently directed Hacksaw Ridge. Starring Andrew Garfield, that picture has been nominated for an impressive six Academy Awards.

It’s expected that the majority of the first film’s cast will be back for the Suicide Squad sequel, but let’s just hope that poor Harley Quinn doesn’t get referred to as “sugar tits” at any point…