Suicide Squad opened in August of 2016 to a mixed critical reception. The cast's performances and production values were praised, but the overall plot and direction of the movie received deserved criticism. Still, the film was a huge box-office success, grossing $746.8 million against a production budget of $175 million.
Based on the antihero team of the same name, the Suicide Squad debuted in The Brave and the Bold #25, before appearing in its modern incarnation in Legends #3 in 1987. As such, the earliest a Suicide Squad film could've been produced would be 1988. Hollywood was a much different place in the eighties, but there's still a plethora of actors that could've brought these characters to life. As always, it's fun to imagine how the team of villains would've looked in the past and who would've played them.
Michelle Pfeiffer As Harley Quinn
After her breakthrough playing Elvira Hancock in Brian De Palma's crime thriller Scarface, Michelle Pfeiffer would go on to have a stellar Hollywood career. 1988 would see her starring in two of her most memorable films, Married to the Mob and Dangerous Liaisons, for which she'll receive her first Oscar nomination.
Pfeiffer would've been a brilliant Harley, bringing just the right amount of childlike glee, sex appeal, and pathos to the character. The character would've also come at the right time in her career, just as she began to make a name for herself both as a serious actress and a consummate movie star.
Carl Weathers As Deadshot
High on his Apollo Creed fame and a year after he co-starred with Schwarzenegger in the highly successful Predator, Carl Weathers would've received the role of Deadshot. The actor's impressive physique and recognition as a tough and impressive action star would've given him the edge over other competitors.
A former professional football player, Weathers would've brought his trademark ruggedness to the role, further increasing the project's credentials as an exciting action piece. The film would've also been a good addition to Weathers' resume, confirming him as a bonafide action man.
Val Kilmer As Rick Flag
Two years after he jumped to stardom with his role as "Iceman" Kazansky in the mega-hit Top Gun, Val Kilmer would've been the ideal choice to play the Squad's leader, Rick Flag. Thanks to his status as a young heartthrob, he would've acted as a box-office draw for younger generations.
Kilmer would've also been good at portraying Flag's heroic and ruthless qualities, mixing them to create an interesting and engaging character. The actor's career would keep growing into the 90s and Suicide Squad would've acted as another feather in his cap.
Daryl Hannah As Enchantress
Despite making her screen debut in Brian de Palma's 1978 supernatural horror film The Fury, Darryl Hannah's breakthrough would not come until 1984. That year, she played the mermaid Madison in Ron Howard's fantasy romance Splash, which led her to more prominent roles in films like Wall Street and Roxanne.
Suicide Squad would've come at a point in Hannah's career when she was just becoming an established leading lady in fantasy pieces. The antagonistic role would've given her resume some color and would've allowed her to show some range.
Matthew Modine As Captain Boomerang
Matthew Modine rose to prominence with his performance as Sergeant J. T. "Joker" Davis in Stanley Kubrick's 1987 war film Full Metal Jacket. He'd go on to co-star with Pfeiffer in Jonathan Demme's comedy Married to the Mob and with Faye Dunaway in the mostly unknown Italian comedy The Gamble, both in 1988.
Modine's comedic instincts would be in full display as George Harkness AKA Captain Boomerang, at a time in his career when the actor was just beginning to find his place in Hollywood. And just like Jai Courtney in the 2016 version, Modine would've certainly been a scene-stealer.
Fred Williamson As Killer Croc
Also known as "The Hammer," Fred Williamson was one of the most prominent actors in 1970s blaxploitation films. Among his most notable movies are 1972's The Hammer, 1973's Black Caesar and its sequel, Hell Up in Harlem, and 1974's Three the Hard Way.
Like Weathers, Williamson was also a professional football player for the AFL as a defensive back. He had numerous television roles throughout the 1980s, but Suicide Squad would've been his most important project in the decade. The eighties version of Killer Croc would've certainly been a lot campier, requiring Williamson to tap into his most over-the-top instincts.
Jimmy Smits As El Diablo
Jimmy Smits rose to prominence in the mid-eighties thanks to his role as attorney Victor Sifuentes in the first five seasons of the legal drama L.A. Law. He had several roles in film during the latter part of the decade, but like Williamson, Suicide Squad would've been his most prominent film project.
A gifted and accomplished actor, Smits would've provided a lot of pathos and depth to the already complex character of El Diablo. His performance would've certainly propelled him into the big leagues, making him an even bigger name by the time he took on the role of Bobby Simone in NYPD Blue.
Pam Grier As Amanda Waller
A legend of blaxploitation action movies of the 1970s, Pam Grier played two of the genre's most recognizable roles: Flower Child "Coffy" Coffin in 1973's Coffy and the titular character in 1974's Foxy Brown. Considered by many to be cinema's first female action star, Grier's contribution to film cannot be understated.
Like many stars of the '70s, Grier's career during the '80s shifted to numerous television appearances and supporting roles in film. Playing Amanda Waller, Grier would provide Suicide Squad with a truly iconic figure of the action genre and would've given the actress's career a considerable boost.
William Hurt As Joker
William Hurt already had a notable career by the time he won the 1986 Oscar for Best Actor, having played leading roles in Ken Russell's sci-fi Altered States and Lawrence Kasdan's neo-noir Body Heat. However, it was his role as Luis Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman that brought him the gold.
By 1988, Hurt had two further Oscar nods, for Children of a Lesser God and Broadcast News. An established and popular actor, Hurt would've created a unique version of the Clown Prince of Crime, playing with the character's trademark lunacy and anarchism. Plus, the Joker's eighties costume would've been so gloriously over-the-top.