SUICIDE SQUAD some facts

Ownership

Warner Bros Pictures part of Time Warner

Time Warner is one of largest multimedia conglomerates third

largest in terms of income ($28 billion in 2016).
It may have just merged with AT & T this deal has still to be
ratified by the American government

Time Warner ownership includes:

TV HBO, Cartoon network, CNN
Film Warner Bros and Warner Bros Home entertainment
Publishing DC Comics
Internet AOL, Time Warner Cable (these will change in AT & T
merger goes through)
(Warner Bros, the record label is not part of the Time Warner group)

Warner Bothers Home Entertainment distribute both to cinemas

and home entertainment.

Production ($175 million budget)

Produced by:
Warner Brothers
Atlas Entertainment
DC Comics
DC Entertainment
Dune Entertainment

Filmed in Toronto and Los Angeles in 2015 (April June)

Written and directed by David Ayer. Ayer signed to make film in

Sept 2014 and had 6 weeks to write film as release date already
agreed (August 1st 2016).

International cast Will Smith, Jared Leto, Cara Delevingne,

Viola Davis, Margot Robbie with worldwide appeal. Others who
expressed interest were Ryan Gosling and Tom Hardy.

Filmed in standard format (35mm film), digital and 3D

Visual effects were done using anamorphic lenses and created

by different outlets of MPC over a 12 month period - these include
fight scenes and CGI
Distribution

Suicide Squad was distributed by Warner Bothers Home

Entertainment both to cinemas and as DVD, Blu-ray and on
demand.
Released to cinemas in 35mm, digital and 3D formats
Release date was August 2016 and by August 5th had been
released in over 60 countries.

Marketing

Suicide Squad held a panel at the July 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
International, with stars Smith, Robbie, Courtney, Davis, and
Kinnaman amongst those who appeared. A trailer intended to be
exclusive to the event was meant to be premiered, but was leaked
online (piracy). The following day, Warner Bros. released an official
version.

The HD version of this trailer had 180 million hits on YouTube.

Other trailers emphasised retro (and popular) soundtrack

Had 15 rating in UK (and R in USA) which made film available to a

wider audience.

Website (www.suicidesquad.com ) with links and features to

comics, stars, characters and release dates of products

Press and TV interviews with the international stars of the film

eg discussing Jared Letos method acting and information on Suicide
Squads version of The Jker to coincide with 75th anniversary.

Pirate/leaked photos of filming helped create a buzz about film

Warners didnt seem to do much to stop these.

Distinctive film posters

Twitter account, launched May 2015, had on set photos to create

interest. Followed this up with conversation and clips

Facebook page with information and clips

Appeal to DC franchise only 3rd film of this franchise there

have been 10 films from Marvel franchise

Merchandising
Harley Quinn baseball bat
Joker razor letter opener
Jackets and T shirts (inc Daddys Lil Monsta)
 Bags
Toys Harley Quinn very popular
Exchange

Wide release in USA (over 4200 screens)

Simultaneous worldwide release (in over 80 countries by end of

August 2016)

Overall cinema box office takings $745 million worldwide and

$325 million in USA.
10th biggest grossing film of 2016

UK and Ireland $43 million

Had to overcome negative press reviews

The home video release of Suicide Squad on Digital HD was on

November 15, 2016, and on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra-HD Blu-Ray, Blu-
Ray 3D, and DVD on December 13, 2016. An extended cut of the
film is included in the home entertainment release, containing
roughly thirteen minutes of footage absent from the theatrical
version

Also available on on demand with separate streamed versions

designed to be viewed on either tablets or phones

Lots of swedes, homages and pastiches on YouTube and social

media
In March 2016, it was announced that Warner Bros. would bring Ayer
and Smith back for a sequel, to be shot in 2017.

In addition, it was later announced in September that Warner Bros.

was planning a spin-off film focusing on Harleen Quinzel / Harley
Quinn, with Robbie serving as executive producer. In December
2016, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Ayer was in discussion to
direct Gotham City Sirens, a film based on Harley Quinn and other
female villains