When James Gunn was confirmed to be brining his own vision of The Suicide Squad to life, no fan could have guessed at just how colorful and eclectic his roster of recruits would prove to be. And even in the presence of Polka-Dot Man, the new rodent-wielding Ratcatcher 2 draws a curiosity all her own.
When Screen Rant got the opportunity to visit the set of The Suicide Squad in November 2019, little was known about the character beyond the actress bringing her to life. But it didn't take long for Portuguese actress Daniela Melchior to show something special in story with Ratcatcher 2--now confirmed to be named as such after taking on the role held by her father, in a particularly meta bit of comic fan service on Gunn's part. The final film will reveal the true scale of Ratcatcher's story, her haunting mask, and just as haunting mastery over rats. But readers can thankfully get a better sense of that strange ability, and other nods to the Batman villain's classic comic arsenal in our full interview with Melchior below.
We were looking at the concept art filled with rats, and we had to ask the question: Does Ratcatcher bring her own rats into this situation? Or do you use the local population of rats wherever you go?
Daniela Melchior: I like to think I have a particular one. Firstly, I am sorry for my bad English. But it will be useful, because my character comes from Portugal, so it's totally fine to have my accent.
I like to think that all the rats from all over the world can speak my language. And wherever I go, if I call them, they will come. From everywhere, like not from Portugal. If I'm in--can we say where we are?
In Corto Maltese?
If I'm in Corto Maltese, I speak with them in Portuguese. I actually have a line--an expression in Portuguese talking with them. But they are from here. From Corto Maltese.
So that's part of your character's superpower?
Yes. If I go to a place, I'm not taking my gang. I go there. And then wherever I go, I have my gang. I don't have to meet them, they're mine!
We've heard stories about one particular rat that Ratcatcher 2 will be closer with, named Sebastian?
Daniela: Yes.
So what has it been like, working with a cute little rat in a vest?
Daniela: I'm not wearing the rats that much actually. We have three rats, three female rats [playing Sebastian]. It's a little bit distracting sometimes, because I have to play like lazy, and tired, and I don't give a shit about whatever is happening. And the rat is like [acting up]. I'm just like, "Come here!" But she doesn't want to, she wants to find new places and go. So we're like, "Okay, we'll try one take with the rats, and we'll see what happens. And then it will be CGI."
I actually don't know if I can say this, but Idris is a little bit afraid of rats [laughs]. And Viola, too. Like whenever I have the rat, I try to put it smaller [in her hands], but it doesn't go smaller, and they are already like looking, "No way. No, keep that thing away!" Yeah. But I'm always trying to... "Look, she's so sweet! She wouldn’t hurt you."
We've heard about how James is singular in his vision of the entire story at any point in it, that that's something special for a filmmaker, a director, that he knows every beat, he knows where everyone needs to be. Is that like freeing knowing you're in such good hands or is there pressure?
Daniela: I totally trust him. And I feel... I don't know what to say. I feel if I call, he will be there. I could go blind, and I would trust him, because he has everything in his head. He knows what he's doing. And whenever he asks us something, we never question because he's a genius.
We know the original Ratcatcher character from the Batman comics. We also saw footage of costume tests for the cast, does your character wear a mask at one point?
Daniela: Yes.
What can you tell us about the mask and the function?
Daniela: I actually... I have the rats, and I have the gas [the cyanide gas gun used by the original Ratcatcher in comics]. So I can't tell you when I'm using it, but I will use it. But you also will [normally] see my face. So it's like, it will be useful, and it will have meaning. You will understand, "Okay, the Ratcatcher from Batman used it, and this Ratcatcher also uses it." I don't know how much more I can say! [laughs]
Stay tuned to Screen Rant for more of our coverage from the set of The Suicide Squad.