The Suicide Squad returns for another mission on August 5. The movie will premiere in theaters and HBO Max, where it will be available to stream for a month. The film reinvents the wheel when it comes to DC Comics’ iconic motley crew, bringing in new and surprising characters like Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian). But it also stays true to its core by bringing back Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), now in her third starring role in the greater DCEU.
Robbie and Dastmalchian spoke to Screen Rant about interpreting their characters and collaborating with legendary filmmaker James Gunn.
Screen Rant: Margot, you've played Harley Quinn three times now with three different directors. How does James Gunn's interpretation add to the character of Harley Quinn?
Margot Robbie: Well, look, there's a lot going on in this movie. There's a lot of characters to service, and everyone really does get their moment.
I see Harley as a catalyst of chaos and James definitely agreed. She's kind of thrown into situations to shake shit up, but she's not necessarily the emotion. You're not meant to navigate through the emotions of it with her, but she has some surprisingly emotional moments all the same.
I knew I was in very good hands with James because I love his films and he's just really smart.
David, Polka-Dot Man has a truly interesting and tragic backstory. Can you talk to me a little bit about the character's origin?
David Dastmalchian: Sure. I can't divulge too many spoilers here. But Abner Krill is from a family that has a connection to S.T.A.R. Labs - those of us who love and collect DC Comics know the importance of S.T.A.R. Laboratories - and was part of some experimentation to help develop the use of an intergalactic virus to try and get superpowers that were hopefully going to be used for good.
But life has not been kind to Abner; life has been a pretty dismal experience thus far. He has no friends, and he has a really dark relationship with his family. So, he's chosen to use that twisted power that he's got to get a little vengeance on the cruel world. And that's how we find him as the story begins.
Margot, I know you're known for giving tattoos on set. Did anybody from this Suicide Squad get any tattoos from you this time around?
David Dastmalchian: I've got six. She did a portrait of herself here.
Margot Robbie: It worked out really well. No, I hung up the tattoo gun a while ago. I haven't done tattoos for a while.
The Suicide Squad premieres on August 6 in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
