Why Jake Gyllenhaal Is Perfect For A Role In Suicide Squad

News broke today that Tom Hardy was forced to drop out of the upcoming Suicide Squad film due to his other movie, The Revenant, running behind schedule.

It's unfortunate because Hardy would've made an excellent Rick Flag.

There is a major silver lining in all of this. Reports indicate that Jake Gyllenhaal is being heavily considered as the replacement. Like Hardy, Gyllenhaal is one of the best actors working in the industry and both would definitely bring a lot to the character, Flag.

For those unfamiliar with the Suicide Squad protagonist, Rick Flag is a U.S. colonel. Possessed with an extreme sense of duty and patriotism, Flag holds the distinction of being the only squad member who wasn't coerced or blackmailed but in fact volunteered for the assignments. Flag is an exemplary hand-to-hand combatant, a skilled tactician and can easily hold his own against meta human adversaries.

Gyllenhaal's filmography showcases that not can he adapt to any virtually role but deliver a distinct and memorable performance each time. Donnie Darko, Jarhead, Brokeback Mountain, Zodiac, and Nightcrawler are testaments to this.

If his next film, Southpaw, is any indication, Gyllenhaal is more than qualified to handle the intense action scenes the DC film will no doubt provide. Another indication is the above photo which showcases Gyllenhaal's physique in preparing for the role.

The Gyllenhaal name has been linked to comic book films for over a decade. His sister Maggie starred as Rachel Dawes in 2008's The Dark Knight. Jake was almost cast to replace an ailing Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2 but Maguire recovered in time to film the sequel. Jake was also nearly picked to star in Batman Begins but the role was ultimately given to Christian Bale.

Gyllenhaal is frequently the first selection of fans and critics alike when it comes to casting leads for prospective comic book adaptations. Being a talented actor is only one (albeit an important) part of the equation. The right project role is also key. Flag is definitely an ideal role for an actor like Gyllenhaal. Given that Suicide Squad is being established with an all-star cast of some of Hollywood's most esteemed actors, Gyllenhaal would be in fine company.