James Gunn Finally Confirming What’s Official DCU Canon in The Suicide Squad
James Gunn will address which parts of 2021’s The Suicide Squad count as official DC Universe canon in a one-off podcast special. The announcement offers fans a definitive answer to a question that has persisted since Gunn became co-head of DC Studios and began building a new DCU.
Gunn will host with DCU actors Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee. The special is due on 30 October and will be available to watch on HBO Max and official DC and HBO YouTube channels, as well as listen to on major podcast platforms. It will discuss characters including Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, King Shark, Amanda Waller and Weasel, alongside set stories and fan questions.
In short
- Gunn will clarify what from The Suicide Squad is DCU canon.
- Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee will co-host the special.
- It is scheduled for 30 October across video and podcast platforms.
Explained simply
The Suicide Squad is a 2021 film about a group of imprisoned criminals sent on a dangerous mission by government official Amanda Waller. It was written and directed by James Gunn and features characters including Harley Quinn, King Shark and Bloodsport.
DC’s new shared universe, or DCU, connects its films and television stories through recurring characters and events. Gunn became a co-head of DC Studios as the company began shaping this universe, leaving fans unsure whether the 2021 film’s events and characters carry over into it.
The question matters because a decision about what counts as canon helps establish how the new DCU relates to earlier stories. It also affects how audiences understand returning characters and their histories.