[dropcap size=small]T[/dropcap]he Suicide Squad have seen their first casualty.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Hardy has dropped out of Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad film. The David Ayer flick features an all-star cast including Will Smith, Jared Leto, and Margot Robbie.
Reportedly, Warner Bros. has already extended an offer to Jake Gyllenhaal to replace Hardy as the character Rick Flagg.
Hardy’s departure is said to be due to scheduling conflicts, according to sources. He is currently shooting The Revenant, a frontier drama directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Birdman) also starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The shooting schedule for that film is now looking to take longer than expected.
Mad Max: Fury Road, which also stars Hardy, is scheduled for release May 15, which lands right in the middle of Suicide Squad filming, and it’s expected that Hardy will have other publicity commitments for Mad Max that will further pull him from Suicide Squad.
Gyllenhaal has received an official offer to replace Hardy but it’s unclear whether he will accept it. Gyllenhaal is currently on Broadway for his play Constellations until mid-March. With Suicide Squad beginning production in April, It’s unknown whether the actor will have enough prep time or down time to take on a prolonged shoot.
Gyllenhaal previously worked with Ayer on the critically-acclaimed film End of Watch.
Are you sad to see Hardy go? Do you think Jake Gyllenhaal is a suitable replacement? Let us know in the comments below!
Suicide Squad is due in theaters August 5, 2016.
