Last month, we reported that Idris Elba was stepping in for Will Smith to play Deadshot in the upcoming reboot The Suicide Squad. While other actors were returning for the new movie, including Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Smith had a scheduling conflict so Elba was brought on to play the role. However, it now looks like they’re leaving the door open to Smith returning down the line by having Elba play a different character.

Variety reports that while it remains unknown who Elba will play, everyone involved felt it was the right move. They didn’t want to disrespect Smith by giving his character to someone else, and since he left due to scheduling rather than creative differences, it leaves Deadshot available to return in a future installment rather than passing the character on to Elba.

Personally, I’m fine if Elba plays a new character, and I’m just glad he’s involved. He’s a talented actor, and I’m eager to see him take on a new character rather than just doing a riff on one we’ve seen before from a different actor. It’s not like DC has any shortages of people he could play. Meanwhile, I liked Smith’s take on Deadshot, so hopefully if The Suicide Squad successfully reboots the franchise, he’ll return for a third installment.

Writer-director James Gunn is in the process of casting the remaining members of the squad (#JusticeForSlipknot) and plans to start filming this fall for an August 6, 2021 release date. Elba will be seen later this year in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and Cats. He’s also signed on to star in George Miller’s Three Thousands Years of Longing and the animated film Mouse Guard. Elba's Netflix series, Turn Up Charlie, was released a few weeks ago. The guy knows how to stay busy.