'Suicide Squad': Tom Hardy Out, Jake Gyllenhaal Could Be In as 'Rick Flag'

Tom Hardy has had to bow out of David Ayer's DC Comics' adaptation, Suicide Squad, due to scheduling conflicts and Warner Bros. has given the Nightcrawler actor, Jake Gyllenhaal, a standing offer to replace him. Between shooting his current movie and the upcoming press tour for Mad Max: Fury Road, Hardy would not be available when filming for 'Squad' begins in April. 

The comic book movie features a team of imprisoned supervillains tapped by a government organization to take on dangerous covert missions in exchange for lighter sentences if they survive. The cast currently touts a star-studded affair with Will Smith (Deadshot), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Jared Leto (the Joker), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and Cara Delevingne (Enchantress).

Hardy's role of Rick Flag, the leader of Task Force X, could go to Gyllenhaal, who previously worked with Ayer on the gritty police drama End of Watch. He's currently on Broadway and the play's run ends in March. The timing is tight, but it's possible. 

Suicide Squad is scheduled for release on August 5, 2016.

Source: Hollywood Reporter