Sylvester Stallone confirmed to be playing a walking, talking shark in The Suicide Squad
Now we know Stallone is that humongous shark
Back in 2020, Sylvester Stallone was announced to be in The Suicide Squad but his role was a mystery. With the release of the first trailer, however, we know exactly who the iconic actor is playing – and it's King Shark, that massive, flesh-eating fish.
The actor, as well as director James Gunn, have both confirmed Stallone's role on Twitter. "OK shark coming your way! The new THe Suicide Squad Is thundering your way! August 8," Stallone wrote, with Gunn releasing the character's poster.
OK shark coming your way! The new THE SUCIDE SQUAD Is thundering your way! August 8!#jamesgunn #The suicide squad #warnerbrotherspictures #Margot Robbie #Johncena https://t.co/G9SkrxPOmeMarch 26, 2021
In case you're wondering who that shark is... @TheSlyStallone King Shark. #TheSuicideSquad https://t.co/ziuCDeU0Wl pic.twitter.com/uB7mnqh7abMarch 26, 2021
King Shark looks very friendly – and dare we say cuddly – in his poster, but the trailer shows him as a particularly carnivorous creature, gobbling up one person and tearing another in two. Previously it was thought Steve Agee was portraying the shark. The actor has a role as John Economos in The Suicide Squad, whom he will also play in the upcoming HBO Max spinoff Peacemaker, starring John Cena as the title character (reprising his role from the movie).
Gunn has already warned that DC didn't protect any of the characters in the film so as The Suicide Squad's tagline goes, "don't get too attached" to this adorable, albeit violent, shark.
The trailer promises a fun-filled few hours with explosions, jokes-a-plenty, and, of course, lots of Harley Quinn, everyone's favorite clown gal, played by Margot Robbie. The cast is absolutely star-studded, including Idris Elba, frequent Gunn collaborator Michael Rooker, and familiar faces from the previous Suicide Squad like Viola Davis' Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman's Rick Flag, and Jai Courtney's Captain Boomerang. Plus, villainous starfish-alien Starro appears to have landed in the DCEU – so whatever happens in this movie, it's bound to be wild.
The Suicide Squad arrives August 6, 2021, in theaters and simultaneously on HBO Max in the US. Until then, check out how to watch DC movies in order to get all caught up with the ultimate movie marathon.
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I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.