Summary
Marvel Studios is producing a new movie featuring antiheroes in the anticipated MCU tentpoleThunderbolts*. The film draws comparisons toSuicide Squad, but the director said the two movies are different.
Thunderboltsis the next movie fromMarvel Studios. The film, directed by Jake Schreier, brings a group of misfit antiheroes and reformed villains from previous MCU installments. Since the leads are a group of antiheroes and villains, many compareThunderboltstoSuicide Squadfrom DC Comics. TwoSuicide Squadmovies have already been released, one in 2016, directed by David Ayer and another in 2021 by James Gunn. Schreier, however, clarified thatThunderbolts*was different.
Schreier, who directed six of the 10 episodes of Netflix’s hit dramaBeef, weighed in on the comparisons of his upcoming Marvel movie toSuicide Squad. The filmmaker said the two projects were different while acknowledging people’s expectations.“I think people are expecting another version of Suicide Squad, but the story felt different,“the director told Empire (viaComicBookMovie). “There was a flip of what people expected it to be.“Schreier’s statement came after several fans and critics compared both films, even before seeingThunderbolts*,which is not available until May. For years since Marvel Studios announcedThunderbolts*many have anticipated it would just be anotherSuicide Squad.Some even jokingly called itSuicide Squad 3 oraSuicide Squadrehash. Others deemed it Marvel’s version of DC’sSuicide Squad.The comparison is understandable because both movies feature unconventional and mismatched team members who are morally ambiguous.Suicide Squadincludes Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang. On the other hand,Thunderbolts*features Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster. However, one should also admit that there is a clear difference between them based on theThunderbolts*trailer.
TheThunderboltstrailerindicates a blend of action and humor, aligning with MCU’s signature tone and style. It’s easy to watch because it’s not as violent asSuicide Squad,based on the footage shown. Ayer’sSuicide Squadhad humor, but it was inconsistent and felt forced. The movie was overall darker and more serious. Gunn’sThe Suicide Squadwas hilarious thanks to the addition of King Shark, Peacemaker, and Polka-Dot Man, who have bizarre personalities and interactions. However, they are still not the same because Thunderbolts focuses on morally gray characters seeking redemption, whileThe Suicide Squadis made up of criminals forced into missions.
The Suicide Squadsfeatures psychopaths, murderers and mercenaries, whileThunderboltsare former heroes, antiheroes and ex-soldiers. For instance, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier is a former brainwashed assassin seeking redemption; Yelena Belova/White Widow is a trained spy with ties to Black Widow struggling with depression; John Walker/U.S. Agent is a soldier grappling with his role after being stripped ofCaptain Americatitle; and Alexei Shostakovich/Red Guardian, Russia’s version of Captain America, who is a washed-up and out-of-shape veteran stuck on his glory days. TheSuicide Squadteam is sent on black-ops missions against governments or alien threats (Starro) and they do it to survive because an explosive device is implanted in their necks. Meanwhile,Thunderboltswill likely feature MCU-level threats, especially withThe Sentryon the team, as their missions are more morally complex. The previousSuicide Squadreceived mixed reception, butThunderbolts*is promising. Its test screening scores were reportedly “extremely high,” and one report called it “a beast of a film.”
It’s understandable why many quickly compareThunderboltswithSuicide Squad. Both movies have the same concept — a group of antiheroes with shady pasts and both teams are government-backed and led by women. RuthlessAmanda Waller(Viola Davis) forSuicide Squad and manipulative but less cruelValentina Allegra de Fontaine(Julia Louis-Dreyfus) forThunderbolts. However, despite the similarities, there are also significant points where they are different, which is probably what Schreier is saying. First, unlikeSuicide Squad, the members ofThunderboltsare free to join the team. InSuicide Squad, the members are convicted criminals and Waller implants explosive devices into their necks and she can detonate them if they do not follow orders. Meanwhile, theThunderboltsare not prisoners but morally gray individuals willing to work together for redemption or personal gain. They have more freedom, which makes the film more fun and exciting. Overall,Thunderbolts*has alighter tone and is expected to have a PG-13 rating, just like most MCU films, in contrast to R-ratedThe Suicide Squad, which is not suitable for young children.
