As we reported earlier today in Movie Morsels, the newly confirmed Suicide Squad film is already circling a shortlist of A-list actors to join its ranks. Given that the David Ayer-directed film is set to release in 2016, it makes sense that they’re fast-tracking its casting. Warner Bros. reportedly had its eye on the likes of Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Will Smith, and Tom Hardy, and now it seems that all of those are likely to be true save for Tumblr’s favorite son, Ryan Gosling.

Deadline is reporting that Warner Bros is indeed in talks with Smith, Hardy, and Robbie, and that all three are close to signing on to the Charles Roven-produced film. If this casting comes to pass, it looks like it’s going to be one hell of a picture. Will Smith typically plays the good guy, so seeing him step into the shoes of a supervillain — or at least an antihero — should be an exciting change of pace for the Artist Formerly Known as the Fresh Prince. Hardy has already proven his DC Universe bona fides with a memorable (and often imitated) turn as Bane in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. Plus, from what little I’ve seen of Mad Max: Fury Road, there’s no doubt that Hardy can play a violent, smoldering badass. Last, but not least, Margot Robbie has been Hollywood’s new it-girl since her starring role in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street where she went toe to toe with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio. Previously, Robbie was in talks to play the Major Motoko Kusanagi equivalent role in DreamWorks’ adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, but that has fallen through. Now, it seems that DreamWorks is offering Scarlett Johansson $10 million to play the role after her action movie successes in Lucy and as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For those of you who may not know the Suicide Squad, they are a group of supervillains from across the DC Universe who are brought together and offered commuted sentences in exchange for performing high-risk, high-stakes black ops work for the United States’ government. Think The Dirty Dozen, but with superpowers and a much more murderous streak. Although these actors are all technically still in talks, it has the feeling of the exciting, often unexpected casting that we usually associate with Marvel’s films. Getting David Ayer to direct the film was a feather in Warner Bros.’ cap, but nabbing these three actors would be a real coup for the studio. Here’s hoping that the next round of casting rumors is equally as exciting.

Who would you like to see these actors play? Who else should be in the film? Do you agree with these choices? Let us know in the comments below or tell me on Twitter (@osteoferocious)!

[HT: Deadline]

Image: DC Comics