Warner Bros. has begun the search for the director who will take over the reins for the sequel to box office hit “Suicide Squad.” Mel Gibson is perhaps the most surprising of the handful of possibilities.
Sources tell Variety that in addition to Gibson, Warners has met with — or is planning to meet with — Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland”), Daniel Espinosa (“Safe House”), and Jonathan Levine (“Warm Bodies”).
Warner Bros. had no comment.
Insiders say the list could grow and that there is no front-runner at the moment.
David Ayer wrote and directed the original pic that starred Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto. The pic followed a group of villains and antiheroes — including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, the Joker, Captain Boomerang, and Killer Croc — who are forced into the service of the government in exchange for lighter sentences.
Though the original was met with a mixed reaction from fans and critics, it nevertheless grossed more than $700 million at the box office, making a sequel inevitable .
Gibson’s successful “Hacksaw Ridge” was his first film as a director in ten years, and if it takes on “Suicide Squad,” it would be his directing assignment more a major studio since helming “Braveheart” at Paramount.
Deadline Hollywood first reported WB’s interest in Gibson.
