I miss plenty about the DCEU now that it has definitively ended, including one of the coolest suits ever adapted for DC movies. The supersuits of the DCEU were relatively contentious, but there is no denying that some fans are now lamenting the loss of the darker, more realistic outfits that both superheroes and supervillains alike opted to wear in DC’s erstwhile cinematic franchise. Looking back, I think the wardrobe was one area where the DCEU excelled, even when it took bold creative decisions with such supersuits as Superman’s.
To be clear, I am a huge fan of the vivid outfits depicted in the new Superman trailer, and I can’t wait to see a trunk-wearing David Corenswet bring the comic book page to life. Nevertheless, after looking back at one of the DCEU’s highest-rated movies, I think that James Gunn shouldn’t shy away from picking the best bits from the now-defunct franchise he also contributed to. Thankfully, the exact costume I have in mind was one he was directly involved with – though I don’t think it got the praise that it truly deserved.
The Suicide Squad’s Bloodsport Suit Is Seriously Underrated
Bloodsport’s Helmet Is The Coolest On The Team
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James Gunn’s first contribution to DC’s live-action movies was The Suicide Squad, a soft reboot of the widely lambasted Suicide Squad that helped to steady the ship. Although The Suicide Squad turned out to be a financial disappointment, it was at least widely acclaimed for many reasons, including its expertly cast host of titular vagabonds, well-balanced tone, and dazzling visual style. There is so much to like, in fact, that I don’t think enough people talk about the character designs and Bloodsport’s incredible wardrobe in particular.
Related Why The Suicide Squad Reviews Are So Positive The Suicide Squad’s reviews have been extremely positive, with critics praising James Gunn’s movie for its action, humor, and Task Force X Characters.
Idris Elba expertly portrays the reluctant yet competent mercenary unwittingly tasked with leading part of Task Force X’s suicide mission, and swiftly became a firm fan-favorite among the team. His costume, meanwhile, underscores just how formidable he is. The muted black-and-bronze color scheme fits the DCEU’s tone, while the full-face visor and skull-jaw helmet serve as a terrifying signifier of Bloodsport’s deadliness and the fact he was able to floor Superman himself. Unfortunately, this helmet isn’t nearly as talked about as Peacemaker’s, for example, which isn’t helped by the fact it barely features in the movie.
Why We Didn’t See Much of Bloodsport’s Suit In The Suicide Squad
Idris Elba Is Too Famous And Talented To Hide
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Bloodsport is one of The Suicide Squad’s main characters alongside Harley Quinn, so it stands to reason that an A-list celebrity like Idris Elba was cast in the role. Sadly, Idris Elba’s star power is possibly one reason why The Suicide Squad barely features him wearing his face-obscuring helmet. It stands to reason, after all, that the filmmakers would want to fully capitalize on Idris Elba’s appeal as one of Hollywood’s foremost actors, and hiding his face behind an opaque mask isn’t conducive to that end, no matter how incredible the costume design is.
Beyond being one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, Idris Elba is an incredibly talented actor whose abilities would be criminally stifled if forced to act from behind an opaque visor for the majority of the movie.
Furthermore, removing a cowl or face covering is par for the course in superhero movies as they allow the actors behind them to convey a fuller range of expressions beyond gesticulating and intonation. Beyond being one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, Idris Elba is an incredibly talented actor whose abilities would be criminally stifled if forced to act from behind an opaque visor for the majority of the movie. I’ll admit, therefore, that the decision was probably for the best – but I still want to see more of Bloodsport’s incredible costume down the line.
The DC Universe’s Ties To The Suicide Squad Mean Bloodsport Could Return
Amanda Waller And Weasel Have Returned
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Thankfully, seeing more of Idris Elba’s Bloodsport is not beyond the realm of possibility. The DCU reboot may have sidelined a long list of DCEU characters, but we’ve already been seeing certain actors reprise their roles in new DCU releases. While Superman is due to kick off the live-action cinematic side of the DCU, the new franchise is technically already underway with Creature Commandos, an animated series that centers around a suspiciously similar remit to The Suicide Squad and its charismatic host of characters. What’s more, Creature Commandos is officially DCU canon, and it’s already drawn from the DCEU.
Creature Commandos is available to stream on Max.
Characters like Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller and Sean Gunn’s Weasel are stars of the show in the DCU’s Creature Commandos. Both of these characters are featured in The Suicide Squad, a fact that opens the door for other surviving characters of James Gunn’s DCEU movie to follow suit. The fact that Bloodsport also survived the ordeal of The Suicide Squad therefore fills me with hope that Gunn will make the wise move to bring him back into the fold. This time, however, I hope we get to see much more of the costume.
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