‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Director Taika Waititi Boards James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’

It’s a partnership like no other. After handling impressive directorial duties for Thor: Ragnarok—not to mention the upcoming Jane Foster-centric Thor: Love and Thunder—Taika Waititi looks set to join another superhero cinematic franchise, this time over at DC. The director is in talks to join the cast of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad relaunch.

Deadline was first to report the news of Waititi’s possible casting, with details of the actor-director’s role tightly under wraps. The final pieces seem to fit perfectly as DC reportedly sets a table reading for The Suicide Squad on September 11. The project aims for a September 23 production and an August 6, 2021 release date.

Waititi joins returning cast Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), and Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag). Among the newcomers to the relaunch include Idris Elba, David Dastmalchian (Polka-Dot Man), Daniela Melchior (Ratcatcher), Flula Borg, Steve Agee (King Shark) and Nathan Fillion.

Meanwhile, Waititi is busy promoting his absurdist Hitler comedy Jojo Rabbit for Fox Searchlight. The film is set during World War II, where an awkward young German boy navigates through adolescence and the current socio-political landscape through the help of his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Alfie Allen, and Rebel Wilson are starring. It hits theaters October 18th, joining the current schedule for the fall movie festival slate.

Gunn is set to dish out a new take for The Suicide Squad as it follows the story of supervillains recruited by the government to do the dirty work not fit for any superhero. Charles Roven and Peter Safran are producing.

The Suicide Squad is being branded as a “relaunch” after Gunn was handed the directing duties in January. The original 2016 film, directed by David Ayer, grossed $746 million worldwide, making it a box office hit despite poor reviews and critic consensus. It was quite the star-studded film with Will Smith, Cara Delevigne, and Jay Hernandez headlining along with Robbie, Davis, Courtney, and Kinnaman.

The Suicide Squad is scheduled for an August 6, 2021 release date.