Mike Z presents... Suicide Squad: My Take

Yes, folks, it's Mike Z. I've been away for probably too long, and it seems like we're slowly but surely losing some of our regulars. MrBlueSky is contemplating whether or not to come back, DDD has been chased away by some petulant people who didn't like his casting choices, the last we heard from Mistress Kizuna was two amazing fancasts from animes that I wish people took a chance at looking at, BobGarlen isn't putting up as many fancasts as usual (well, he is a father, so I respect him for not being as active as he was in the past), MrDonut has been inactive for a while, last year's standout newcomer A2K has been absent, and LEEE777 made a promise to come back after his computer was fixed up yet nothing came out of it. Thankfully, there are some good fancasters that remain (theultimatefan, newcomer animeotaku201, MrMM, UltimateCookie, and a few others I forgotten). And now, I've made a return after being gone for so long. I've been trying to come up with a good fan cast for a while, but wasn't satisfied with end results. But I think this is the one that I'm sticking with.

As we all know, the DCEU hasn't been looking too positive in the eyes of fans. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the movie that was hyped to be the savior of the cinematic universe, was welcomed with brutal criticism and a box office return that couldn't beat Zootopia. Meanwhile, Suicide Squad, while better than BvS, still didn't win anyone over, whether it was how the Joker looked and acted, or how the character development came through, or yet another attempt at trying too hard to compete with Marvel. So here, I've decided to do "recasts" of these movies to hopefully make them look better.

So, here are some liner notes on my take on the Suicide Squad:

Composer: A film score (also sometimes called film music, background music, or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question.

Ramin Djawadi [Notable Works: Iron Man, Person of Interest, Pacific Rim]: He's done incredible job with the soundtracks to Iron Man and Pacific Rim, mixing epic orchestrations with heavy metal guitar riffs. But he's also done gritty and dramatic with his work in the successful Person of Interest. Something about his work in the latter would make him an ideal choice to score a Batman movie. But with all genres combined, he can be just as good for a Suicide Squad movie.

Screenplay: A screenplay or script is a written work by screenwriters for a film, video game or television program. These screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated. A play for television is also known as a teleplay.

Joe Carnahan [Notable Works: Smokin' Aces, The A-Team, Bad Boys for Life]: While I don't have Joe Carnahan as director for my take on a Suicide Squad film, that doesn't mean he'll have some involvement. He's done amazing work with 2002's Narc, Smokin' Aces, and the remake of The A-Team. And he'll be offering his services to the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life, aka the third installment of the iconic Bad Boys movie series. He's done a gritty crime drama about a self-destructive main character looking to make things right, an ensemble action-comedy involving every low-life achieving an individual goal, and an epic caper about a four disparate individuals trying to save the day. Maybe not as a director, but he could really work his magic for a Suicide Squad movie.

Director: Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.

Ruben Fleischer [Notable Works: Zombieland, 30 Minutes or Less, Gangster Squad]: Even though I was let down by Gangster Squad, I wouldn't blackball Ruben Fleischer from wanting to move on towards more serious fare. Matter of fact, I thank Movie Monster for inspiring me with this casting choice, and not choosing someone more obvious, like Joe Carnahan. Ruben's work in 30 Minutes or Less and Gangster Squad showed his ability to work within the action/crime comedy genre, while Gangster Squad gave him the opportunity to work with an ensemble cast and a more dramatic tone. With more qualified screenwriters behind him, he could be able to have his first good film since Zombieland.

Floyd Lawton/Deadshot [Height: 6' 1", Age: 40's]: The younger son of a wealthy couple who hated each other, Floyd Lawton idolized his elder brother, Edward, although he lived in his shadow. When he was a teenager his mother Genevieve convinced Floyd to try to kill his abusive father. He climbed a tree with a rifle, but somehow his aim went astray and he accidentally killed his brother instead. Swearing that he would never again miss a shot, he began training as a sharpshooter. As an adult he joined the Marines and spent some time with the League of Assassins before seeking independent employment as a mercenary and assassin. Following an attempted hit on a senator that was interrupted by Batman he was sent to Belle Reve, where he was invited to join the Suicide Squad.

Bradley Cooper [Height: 6' 1"; Age: 41; Notable Works: Silver Linings Playbook, Guardians of the Galaxy, American Sniper]: Well, much like the existing Suicide Squad movie, my choice for Deadshot will be a big-name actor. Bradley Cooper is tremendous in whatever film he does. Aside from some stinkers in 2015, he's rarely turned in a bad performance. His work as legendary Navy sniper Chris Kyle in 2014's American Sniper is the reason why I cast him as Deadshot. He portrayed a man who had excellent target skills, yet is also a troubled individual with a bit of a death wish. He's definitely got the right acting chops, expertise in action, and comic timing to play the character a little similar to how Will Smith approached it in last month's Suicide Squad.

The Joker [Height: 6' 5", Age: N/A]: The Joker is a homicidal maniac and the archenemy of Batman. Although his real name and full origin are unknown, the Joker is known to have been thrown into a vat of chemicals which turned his skin white, his hair green, and left his face permanently locked in a double Glasgow Grin. Completely unpredictable with no regard for human life, the Joker finds murder and mayhem funny, and is perhaps the most dangerous man on Earth with a body count stretching into the thousands, all centered around his obsession with destroying the Dark Knight and to see the world burn.

Matt Smith [Height: 5' 11"; Age: 33; Notable Works: Doctor Who (season 4-8), Terminator Genisys, Pride and Prejudice + Zombies]: Matt has proven to have been a great successor to David Tennant as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor in the revival of Doctor Who. Some people may not see him as the Joker, and after what Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger brought to the table, it would be hard to see the character have another run on the big screen. But here's the thing, a new live-action take on the Joker needs to be less award bait and more accurate to the comic book character's origins (i.e. no platinum grills that pretty much died out in the better part of the last decade as seen in Suicide Squad). And Matt Smith isn't any stranger to roles like this; he's portrayed Patrick Bateman in a musical version of American Psycho, while the Ryan Gosling-directed Lost River saw him play a vicious gangleader. Then there was his performance as Parson Collins which, like his work as the Doctor, showed off his ability to play eccentric and funny. Overall, he's really got a good look and feel of the character that was seen in the recent animated adaptation of The Killing Joke. I can easily see him give a successful live-action variation on Mark Hamill's inconic representation of the character.

Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn [Height: 5' 7", Age: 30's]: Harley Quinn is a flamboyant super-villain and an adversary of Batman usually recognized as the Joker's girlfriend, although she has had her own strong solo career. Born Harleen Quinzel, she had been working as a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum where she was assigned to the Joker and fell in love with him. This led to her adopting her own costumed persona, adapting the word harlequin, to assist him escape and cause further mayhem. Their relationship is passionate and continuously off-on, with Harley's best friend Poison Ivy constantly encouraging her to break up with for good. However, Harley's love for the Joker eventually brings her back to his side with the Joker himself demonstrating a keen need for her despite himself. When not with the Joker, she has been working mostly on her own in Gotham City, sometimes teaming up with her other friends. Her special abilities include an enhanced physiology due to chemical experimentation, giving her increased strength, agility and durability.

Kate McKinnon [Height: 5' 4"; Age: 32; Notable Works: Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters (2016 film), Masterminds]: The Ghostbusters remake has been met with controversy and mixed critical reception. But Kate McKinnon stood out the most, giving the most memorable performance out of the ensemble cast. Matter of fact, based on her work as Holtzmann, she came off like someone who could give us a great live-action take on Harley Quinn, namely Arleen Sorkin's iconic take from Batman: The Animated Series. Kate may not be considered attractive like previous actress Margot Robbie. But with comic timing, an ability to play eccentric and ditzy, and a hidden talent for doing stuntwork based on the scene @ 7:20 in the video below, she would throw viewers for a loop and impress the most cynical. She just needs a fitness regimen and martial arts training to nail the character's gymnast background, and maybe some classes in psychology to convincly play Dr. Harleen Quinzel. With all that considered, Kate could give us a memorable Harley Quinn.

Rick Flag Jr. [Height: 6' 1", Age: 30's]: Rick Flag is an elite soldier and government agent working in Task Force X. Flag is the team's field commander, and he accompanies them on all covert ops missions.

Jake McLaughlin [Height: 6' 1"; Age: 33; Notable Works: In the Valley of Elah, Warrior, Quantico]: He's done TV and movies here and there, but he most recently caught my attention in the hit TV series Quantico as FBI recruit Ryan Booth. He has an American appeal to him, can play the same kind of authoritive figure Rick Flagg is, and can do action without much problem. This won't happen, I'm sure I'll be getting that, but I think he can do just as good a job, or even better, than Joel Kinnaman did in Suicide Squad.

Amanda Waller [Height: 5' 1", Age: 40's]: Little is known about Amanda Waller's personal history. Raised by her grandmother who turned her out of her home when Amanda was a teenager, she at some point joined the United States Army, where she acquitted herself well as a soldier. She was assigned to Team 7, a black ops unit which met with a disastrous end, and briefly retired. Following a final mission in which all other agents, including a close childhood friend, died in defence of American interests she formulated a plan to create a black ops team composed entirely of expendable members, primarily super-villains. She was placed in charge of the newly-created Task Force X, otherwise known as the Suicide Squad.

Sanaa Lathan [Height: 5' 7"; Age: 44; Notable Works: Blade, Alien vs. Predator, The Cleveland Show]: Sanaa is one of the more talented actresses of her kind, perhaps better than Halle Berry. She's actually done a comic book movie before, portraying the mother of vampire slayer Blade in the Marvel superhero's cinematic debut in 1998, so this wouldn't be unfamiliar grounds for her. Thing is, I'm actually happy that Viola Davis got the role of Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad, seeing as I envisioned her for the role long before she got cast. But this is a different cinematic universe, with wholly different actors and actresses, so Davis won't be showing up here. Nonetheless, Sanaa knows her way around playing it ruthlessly amoral based on her work as Andrea in The Family that Preys. Meanwhile she's played roles similar to Waller in films like Alien vs. Predator and Now You See Me 2. I know people would prefer the fatter version of the character before the New 52 comics changed things, but with an actress like Sanaa Lathan, people would look past it.

George "Digger" Harkness/Captain Boomerang [Height: 5' 9", Age: 30's]: The illegitimate son of an American serviceman and an Australian housewife, George Harkness was raised in rural Australia by his mother and stepfather. Impoverished throughout his early life and hated by his stepfather, who suspected that the boy was not his, George discovered a natural talent with the boomerang, which he honed throughout his early adolescence. He turned to crime at an early age, using his boomerangs to rob a store. As a result, his stepfather threw him out, and his mother bought him a plane ticket to Central City so he could find his father, the toy magnate W.W. Wiggins. He auditions to be the spokesman for Wiggins' new toy line, and gains the identity of Captain Boomerang. Initially planning to keep on the straight and narrow, he soon returned to crime. Boomerang is recruited by Amanda Waller to join the Suicide Squad, with the promise that at the end of his service he will be pardoned and set free. He is a difficult and rebellious teammate, and none of his peers like or trust him. He joins the team in several successful missions, but also causes many problems for them.

Rob Kazinsky [Height: 6'; Age: 32; Notable Works: Pacific Rim, Second Chance, Warcraft]: A former veteran of British soap (EastEnders), Rob has made big waves in America with his appearance in numerous geek pleasers like the Guillermo del Toro-helmed monster film homage Pacific Rim and the adaptation of the PC RPG series that is Warcraft. Casting him in the role of one of the Flash's Rogues villains may not be what everyone expected, as I've seen him being a favorite for a new Hal Jordan/Green Lantern or even the Fantastic Four's Thing (him being Jewish can make me cosign to that idea). But his work in the former film as Jaeger pilot Chuck Hansen proves he is capable playing the role of a ball-busting Australian douchebag (even though Rob is UK-born). Then there's his role as Warlow in True Blood, where he played a malicious monster. No offense to BobGarlen, but I think he's a slightly better actor than current Boomerang actor Jai Courtney. He would do well in an ensemble and kill it as Boomerang.

Eve Eden/Nightshade [Height: 5' 8", Age: 30's]: Nightshade is Eve Eden, a superhero with the ability to manipulate shadows. This includes the ability to transform into a living shadow, and the ability to travel through shadow portals. Her father is senator Warren Eden, her mother is Queen Reah of the mystical Land of the Nightshades, and her brother is super-villain Incubus.

Katharine Isabelle [Height: 5' 5"; Age: 34; Notable Works: Ginger Snaps, American Mary, Hannibal (season 2-3)]: I think Nightshade would be an interesting character to throw in a Suicide Squad movie to tie in relations with the villain Incubus, plus the character has a few interesting stories that would really work on screen (she takes on the Jihad at one point). Now I had to find a good actress to play her. Katharine Isabelle is mostly known for her work as Ginger in the 2000 cult movie Ginger Snaps, then found work as the mysterious Margot Verger in the last two seasons of Hannibal. But few may remember her role as the titular character in the 2012 horror film American Mary, which won her a Best Actress award at Screamfest at the time. I realized what a potentially scintillating synergy could be wrought from combining the two. All that's left is to learn martial arts (Nightshade is known to be very skilled in that area), and she would be perfect for Nightshade.

Louise Lincoln/Killer Frost [Height: 5' 3", Age: 20's]: Dr. Louise Lincoln was a colleague and friend of Crystal Frost, the villainess known as Killer Frost. After Frost died, she decided to repeat the experiment as a last respect to her former mentor, and became the new Killer Frost. She became just as ruthless as her predecessor and began her own personal vendetta against Firestorm, who she blamed for Frost's death. She briefly served as a member of the Suicide Squad and sold her soul to Neron for more power.

Leven Rambin [Height: 5' 4"; Age: 26; Notable Works: All My Children, The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters]: She's conquered soap operas, a TV series based on an iconic sci-fi movie series, and two YA novel adaptations. The Hunger Games has shown her ability to play a murderer, and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters has shown off her experience with intense stuntwork and playing smartasses. She may wind up appearing in a future Suicide Squad sequel considering she was at the first film's movie premiere last month. Whatever the case, she would do amazing as Killer Frost.

Eric Needham/Black Spider [Height: 5' 11", Age: 30's]: A drug addict in his youth, Eric Needham turned to crime to support his habit. After numerous petty thefts and muggings, Needham attempted armed robbery, breaking into a liquor store and inadvertently killing a man who turned out to be Needham's own father.  Going almost insane with the remorse he felt, Needham kicked his drug habit and sought vengeance against dealers everywhere. Learning of Needham's obsession, a mysterious force supplied him with extensive training, a colorful costume and sophisticated weaponry. Since he intended to prey on criminal "flies" Needham took the name Black Spider.

Charles Michael Davis [Height: 6'; Age: 31; Notable Works: The Originals, Ur In Analysis, Battle Scars]: He's fantastic as Marcel in The Originals, a show which I've started preferring over The Vampire Diaries since Nina Dobrev's departure. He knows how to play dark, menacing, and psychologically damaged with ease. It also doesn't hurt that he resembles how Federico Dallocchio drew Black Spider in Suicide Squad Vol 4 #8. For the take on the character seen in Batman: Assault on Arkham, you can't find a better choice than Charles Michael Davis.

Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger [Height: 6' 3", Age: 40's]: Ben Turner is Bronze Tiger, one of the world's greatest martial artists. He studied with Richard Dragon under the O-Sensei, and was later brainwashed by the League of Assassins. This made him one of the world's deadliest killers.

Robert "RZA" Diggs [Height: 6' 2"; Age: 47; Notable Works: American Gangster, The Man with the Iron Fists (movie series), G.I. Joe Retaliation]: One of the most influential voices in hip-hop history, and the leader of the 90's hip-hop ensemble you may know as the Wu-Tang Clan. He's also had some competent acting gigs, appearing in films like American Gangster as an honest cop, and in a small role in G.I. Joe: Retaliation as Blind Master. So what spurred me into casting the RZA himself as Bronze Tiger? Well, besides visiting Imagine Casting (www.imaginecasting.com) for an original choice, the man is a connoisseur of martial arts, which themes have driven the Wu-Tang Clan and each member's solo albums. His work as the Blacksmith in The Man with the Iron Fists, a film he directed and wrote for, also showed off this expertise. He's got a commanding screen presence and can do gritty with no problem. He would be great as Bronze Tiger for a Suicide Squad movie, especially my version.

June Moore/Enchantress [Height: 5' 7", Age: 30's]: June Moon, a normal teenage girl, was in the Terror Castle when she found a secret passage into a room that held a demon named Dzamor. Dzamor told June Moon that she was going to be his mystical defender of justice, ridding the world of all its evil. With the word "Enchantress", June would transform into a powerful witch with the potential for massive magical abilities. Dzamor informed June that when a certain astronomical alignment with the Moon occurred, the Enchantress would gain the necessary power to accomplish her goal. Unfortunately, Supergirl had to move the moon on one of her many capers, so the event never occurred for the Enchantress. This caused the Enchantress to snap and go mad, leading a life of evil. She was eventually jailed and offered a chance to join the Suicide Squad, which she accepted.

Alexandra Breckenridge [Height: 5' 7"; Age: 34; Notable Works: Family Guy, She's the Man, American Horror Story (season 1-3)]: This was a bit of a tough one to cast, but it's afe to say that this lovely actress from American Horror Story helped me out. Alexandra's performance as the younger half of Moira O'Hara hit all the bells and whistles of the show's supernatural tone that she struck out as a great choice to play my version of the Enchantress. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Cara Delevingne and the college try she put in as the character based on clips of the Suicide Squad movie, but besides this being my own DC cinematic universe, Alexandra would be just as good a consideration. And she's showed what a dynamic performer she can be when playing a wide variety of characters during her run on Family Guy. I think people would be down with her as Enchantress, and not create a divide between comic book fans.

Batman [Height: 6' 2", Age: 30's]: Batman is the superhero protector of Gotham City, a man dressed like a bat who fights against evil and strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere. In his secret identity he is Bruce Wayne, billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy. Although he has no superhuman powers, he is one of the world's smartest men and greatest fighters. His physical prowess and technical ingenuity make him an incredibly dangerous opponent.

Lee Pace [Height: 6' 5"; Age: 37; Notable Works: The Hobbit (film series), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014 film), Halt and Catch Fire]: I think I've had numerous choices go through my head for who to play a great Batman, but I think I found a good one. Lee Pace may have a comic book role already, Ronan in the Marvel cinematic universe, but after catching his performance in Halt and Catch Fire, he wound up being my latest choice for Batman. As Joe McMillian, he played a charismatic visionary with a checkered past and a slight low-key personality, which really struck a chord as how he can play Bruce Wayne. Meanwhile, his underrated work as Ned in Pushing Daisies has shown his ability to play up the detective skills as Batman. And we've all seen his physical prowess in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Hobbit, so I'm sure he can nail the action-packed set pieces. Lee could easily bring a Tim Burton-esque quality to the role, yet make it feel original and unique.