The Suicide Squad's Storm Reid has described how intimidating it felt to call out Idris Elba while filming James Gunn's standalone sequel to David Ayer's 2016 Suicide Squad. Reid plays Tyla, the estranged, 16-year-old delinquent daughter of Elba's Bloodsport/Robert DuBois. Tyla has been arrested for theft and is set to be tried as an adult despite her young age, and is likely to be incarcerated alongside DuBois in Belle Reve, a prison that houses some of the worst supervillains in the world and — as Viola Davis' Amanda Waller nonchalantly admits — also has the highest inmate mortality rate in the US. While her presence in the film is a brief one, it is also integral to it, as ensuring that she stays out of Belle Reve is what spurs Bloodsport to agree to be part of Task Force X.
Despite her age, Reid is no stranger to working alongside big stars, having previously appeared in films such as A Wrinkle in Time and The Invisible Man. She has also had roles in a number of TV shows, including as Zendaya's younger sister Gia Bennet in HBO's Euphoria and as Lisa in When They See Us. Reid is next set to appear in Searching 2, the sequel to 2018's computer-screen thriller Searching, although it is expected to be a standalone film with no characters returning from the original.
Speaking to Variety, Reid discussed her experiences of working on The Suicide Squad and what drew her to the role. When asked what it was like to work opposite Elba and effectively curse him out, the actress described it as "very intimidating." This is understandable considering that Elba is a huge star, but apparently both he and the rest of the cast and crew "made [Reid] feel comfortable" on set. Reid added that despite her nerves, she feels that "the cut that made it into the movie is really darn good" adding "I’m proud of it." You can read Reid's full statement below:
"It is very intimidating, especially the way you put it, cursing out Idris Elba! It’s all part of the fun of acting, stepping into your character’s shoes and trying to embody a character, but also not neglect your raw emotion as a human being. They all made me feel comfortable. We had a day of going back and forth. [James Gunn], he really made us go at it and had us do it a lot of different ways. I think the cut that made it into the movie is really darn good and I’m proud of it."
Reid makes a fair point about balancing the mentality of her character with her own emotions as an individual. However, while she may have had some nerves going into the scene it's hard to tell in the finished product. The heated exchange between Elba and Reid proves to be a standout in the earlier part of the film, helping to establish Bloodsport's gruff and grumpy personality perfectly. Reid also brings an excellent blend of both naivete and insolence to the character that greatly aids Davis's portrayal of Waller, as Waller's threat to send Tyla to Belle Reve highlights how deplorable Waller truly is.
With Gunn teasing further spin-offs of The Suicide Squad, like his upcoming Peacemaker series, it's possible that we may also see a Bloodsport series. If this comes to be, then hopefully we will also see Reid return as Tyla. The chemistry between her and Elba was already excellent and there is a lot more time to explore their relationship in a potential series. Failing that, even if Elba were only to return for a sequel to The Suicide Squad, then there is certainly potential for Reid to return alongside Elba, ideally in a slightly more expanded role.
Source: Variety
