Can the supercrims of Task Force X save DC’s faltering cinematic universe? Jordan Farley witnesses superhero cinema break bad on the Toronto set of Suicide Squad
When Batman V Superman was released earlier this year it didn’t just promise an epic clash of the titans, it was also the launch pad for an Extended Universe road-mapped right through to 2020. Things didn’t exactly go to plan. After a critical beat down and toxic word of mouth, BvS made a relatively under whelming $872 million at the box office, well short of the expected billion dollar benchmark, leading many to wonder what DC could do to earn back the goodwill they squandered. The answer was already in the can.
JOKER IN THE PACK?
It’s July 2015 and SFX is at Pinewood Toronto Studios, base of operations for David Ayer’s big-screen Suicide Squad adaptation. The facility’s humongous sound stages are currently home to several of the tailor-made cells for Belle Reve penitentiary’s notorious inmates, as well as a full-size train station entrance modeled on New York’s Penn Station. A massive battle between Task Force X – the super villains forced to fight for their government – and a mysterious, otherworldly threat known as the Eyes of the Adversary is due to be shot here later in the week, but today filming has moved to Buttonville Municipal Airport where the Squad, recently released from prison and freshly implanted with coercive nanite bombs in their necks, are reunited with the gear confiscated when they were thrown in the slammer.
This story is from the September 2016 edition of SFX.
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This story is from the September 2016 edition of SFX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Making Alien - Jaws in Space - Forty-five years on from its original release, Alien continues to terrify. We dissect what arguably remains the most chilling instalment in the saga
The seven-strong crew of the commercial mining spacecraft the Nostromo seal their fate after reluctantly responding to a mysterious distress signal on a hostile planet. Here, a face-hugging alien from a derelict ship impregnates and later kills executive officer Kane (John Hurt) after its offspring is birthed onboard. After being unleashed, the fearsome newborn with acid for blood proceeds to dispatch the remainder of the crew.Ridley Scott's much more convoluted prequels have yet to reveal how the knowledge that led to this initial interception was acquired. However, the premise of the original Alien is perfect in its uncomplicated purity.
PURE AND SIMPLE
IN THE FINAL PART OF OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, SHOWRUNNER RUSSELL T DAVIES TALKS RELAUNCHING DOCTOR WHO
TO CAP IT ALL OFF
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE BBC SERIES THE TRIPODS
FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE WALKING DEAD SPIN-OFF SHOWRUNNER DAVID ZABEL ON BEING GIVEN THE TOUGH TASK OF REUNITING DARYL AND CAROL IN FRANCE
SILENT KILLERS
THE DIRECTOR OF HOLLYWOOD'S SPEAK NO EVIL REMAKE ON HORROR, COMEDY AND JAMES MCAVOY
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
THE GHOST WITH THE MOST RETURNS FINALLY - IN BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
TEENAGE DREAM
JOE LOCKE HITS THE ROAD RUNNING
MOB RULE THE PENGUIN
GOTHAM'S UP FOR GRABS IN BRUISING NEW CRIME SAGA BUT WHERE IS THE BATMAN?
SEASON OF THE WITCH
AS MARVEL TELEVISION CARVES OUT A NEW PATH FOR ITSELF, WE SPEAK TO CREATOR JAC SCHAEFFER, PLUS A CAST OF STARS LED BY KATHRYN HAHN AND JOE LOCKE, ABOUT THE MAGIC OF WANDAVISION'S SPIN-OFF AGATHA ALL ALONG
Ghouls Allowed
Even silence can't save you at this year's Halloween Horror Nights