Warner Bros. and DC's shared movie universe continues in a big way not only with 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice but that year's followup, the supervillain (antihero?) all-star jam Suicide SquadWith Fury director David Ayer at the helm and and a fascinating cast of A-listers bringing a dynamic group of DC universe villains to life, fan anticipation just keeps growing.

Suicide Squad's roster introduces a new generation of classic villains assembled by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis): Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, with Jared Leto appearing as The Joker in some manner yet to be revealed.  The recent rumors about the film's plot suggest that it could very well be a key entry in the DCMU, setting up not just that rumored Ben Affleck Batman solo film but also 2017's Wonder Woman and Justice League films.

So with this new comic book movie universe yet to be fully fleshed out, the question remains - just how much (or how little) will Ayer take from the source material? The writer/director recently took to Twitter to tease this very dilemma with the following:

The eternal question: To canon, or not to canon? ;-)— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) February 8, 2015

A better question might be: Which canon? Originating as a group of World War II soldiers in 1959's The Brave and the Bold, Suicide Squad - also known as Task Force X - has gone through several different incarnations, from the Silver Age lineup to the current version (created by John Ostrander) of frequently-incarcerated supervillains and anti-heroes forced to take on dangerous missions around the world.

Ultimately, fans should expect Ayer's film to draw from plenty of the established comic book history. According to another tweet:

Canon #skwad - The DC universe is too rich to go very far astray. pic.twitter.com/fHespNiEf3— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) February 8, 2015

If there is one ongoing problem with Marvel's Cinematic Universe, it is the consistently underwhelming (or just plain uninteresting) antagonists. Aside from one or two notable exceptions (Tom Hiddleston's Loki, for example), the MCU's villains have come across as largely faceless and/or interchangeable. Warner/DC's bold step in pushing ahead with Suicide Squad will provide a wealth of fascinating opposing forces for its big screen heroes.

Suicide Squad - Pizza Party

One of them in particular has been getting plenty of attention, for good reason. Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn is not only a fan-favorite, often sympathetic villain, but is immediately associated with Batman's number one foe, the Joker. Pulling off the introduction of Harley and her "puddin" to this new continuity is just as crucial as raising the curtain on the Justice League.

Ayer definitely seems aware of this, having tweeted the following:

The case of Harley Quinn: Her madness defines her. Is she mad because of WHO she loves or because she loves him so much? #skwad— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) February 5, 2015

Harley's pathology has fascinated fans since her introduction in Batman: The Animated Series proved so popular she was added to the official comic book canon. She has often found herself as much a victim of the Joker as a partner in crime, with her New 52 origins showcasing a more assertive, conflicted nature.

Robbie's Quinn is almost inevitably going to play a central role in the DCMU underworld going forward. The character represents a relatively recent part of the Suicide Squad canon, but if Ayer's hints are any indication, we might be in for some surprises when more of the plot is "officially" revealed.

Suicide Squad will be released on August 5, 2015.

Source: David Ayer