The Dig is a 2021 British drama film directed by Simon Stone, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston,
Will Smith as Floyd Lawton / Deadshot:[4]
An expert marksman and assassin.[5][6] A mercenary by day and a concerned father by night, Deadshot is a conflicted criminal who enjoys the hunt, but still tries to do right by his young daughter.[7] Smith was simultaneously offered to appear in Suicide Squad and Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to Independence Day which he starred in. Smith opted to portray Deadshot, saying that the choice was “nothing about the qualities of the movie—but the choice of trying to go forward versus clinging and clawing backwards.”[8]
Margot Robbie as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn:[9]
A former psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum seduced by the Joker into becoming his crazed partner-in-crime.[5][6] Producer Richard Suckle described the character as, “a fan fave. Funny, crazy, scary. … You can’t come up with enough adjectives to describe all the different things you see her do.”[10] Robbie described Quinn as one of the Squad’s most manipulative members, and her relationship with Joker as “incredibly dysfunctional,” adding that Quinn is, “mad about him—like, literally, mad. She’s crazy. But she loves him. And it’s a really unhealthy, dysfunctional relationship. But an addictive one.”[11]
Joel Kinnaman as Col. Rick Flag:[12]
The heroic, military leader of the Task Force X. A West Point graduate and Green Beret colonel who leads the Suicide Squad in the field. He is all business and executes Amanda Waller’s orders but does not always agree with her goals or her methods.[7] Tom Hardy was previously cast in the role but was forced to drop out because of scheduling conflicts.[6][13]
Viola Davis as Amanda Waller:[14]
The government official who gives out the Squad’s orders.[10] Ambitious and devious, she has big plans and intends to let no metahuman or military protocol get in her way.[7] Davis stated she is fascinated by the character, singling out her psychology and strength and describing her as a “powerful black woman, hard, ready to pick up a gun and shoot anyone at will.”[15] She described Waller as “relentless in her villainy” and noted that her powers are “her intelligence and her complete lack of guilt.”[10][16]
Jai Courtney as George “Digger” Harkness / Captain Boomerang:[17]
A thief who uses deadly boomerangs,[5][6] described as rugged, unpredictable and mouthy.[7] About his role, Courtney stated, “he is an absolute bogan, in the purest sense. David Ayer’s first instruction was, ‘find your inner dirtbag’.”[16]
Jay Hernandez as Chato Santana / El Diablo:[13][16]
A former Los Angeles gang member who has metahuman powers that allow him to summon flames, and transform himself into a monstrous fire demon-like entity.[16] He has squelched his fire-conjuring powers to a solitary flame as penance for the horrors he inflicted on those he loved.[7] Hernandez set his character apart from his teammates as he “just wants to stay out of the fight,” while “most of [the Squad members] are happy to get out there and kill people.”[16]
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Waylon Jones / Killer Croc:
A cannibalistic metahuman criminal who suffers from a regressive atavism which caused him to develop reptilian features.[6][18] Being a meta-human, he possesses near superhuman strength, high endurance, and the capacity to breathe underwater. His skin allows him to withstand high caliber weapons and skin abrasion.[19] Akinnuoye-Agbaje described the character as “a cannibal with rage issues.”[10]
Cara Delevingne as Dr. June Moone / Enchantress:
An archaeologist who is possessed by an ancient evil force that transforms her into a host of a powerful sorceress, when summoned.[5][10][16] Unleashed after a long period of imprisonment, the entity draws the attention of Waller.[16] Delevingne described Moone as “an adventure-seeker who’s always wanted some excitement” and Enchantress as “a feral being.”[16] Originally, the film was going to feature the revelation that Enchantress was being controlled by Steppenwolf, the main antagonist of Justice League (2017), but this was scrapped after the Justice League story changed.[20]
Ike Barinholtz as Capt. Hunter Griggs:[21]
An officer at Belle Reve’s Special Security Barracks, the black site where the government imprisons the squad.
Scott Eastwood as “GQ” Edwards:[21]
A Navy SEAL Lieutenant who assists Flag during the squad’s mission. After working with actor Shia LaBeouf on Fury, Ayer originally sought him out for the role, but the studio was not interested in the actor.[22]
Adam Beach as Christopher Weiss / Slipknot:
A man who can climb anything.[23]
Karen Fukuhara as Tatsu Yamashiro / Katana:
A volunteer heroic member of the Task Force X, who acts as Rick Flag’s bodyguard. She is a widowed expert martial artist and swordswoman. Katana mourns her husband’s death, and wields the Soultaker Blade, a mystical weapon capable of trapping the souls of its victims; the artefact that holds her husband’s soul.[6][7][13] As she is not a criminal, she does not have a micro-bomb implant. Fukuhara stated that Katana “has morals and codes. She can also slice through hundreds of people without taking a breath.”[16]
Jared Leto as The Joker:
A psychopathic crime boss and the nemesis of Batman. Leto described his role as “nearly Shakespearean” and a “beautiful disaster of a character;” about portraying the villain, he stated, “I took a pretty deep dive. But this was a unique opportunity and I couldn’t imagine doing it another way. It was fun, playing these psychological games. But at the same time it was very painful.” Leto never broke character throughout filming, with Smith going as far as stating he never met him. In preparation for the role, Leto spent his time alone, listened to gospel music from the 1920s—commenting he senses “Joker may be much older than people think”—and read literature on shamanism. Influences for the character’s appearance include the work of Alejandro Jodorowsky.[24] The Joker’s tattoos were added by Ayer, who believed it gave the character a modernized gangster look.[25]