Joel Edgerton and Jon Bernthal Eyed to Replace Tom Hardy in SUICIDE SQUAD

Warner Bros. needs to find a replacement for Tom Hardy in Suicide Squad, and after Jake Gyllenhaal passed on the role, the studio has turned its eyes to Joel Edgerton and Jon Bernthal. Cinema Blend reported on Thursday that the duo is now in the running to play Rick Flag. (Just one of them, obviously — they wouldn't play the character together.)

Bernthal has previously worked with Suicide Squad director David Ayer on Fury, and Cinema Blend notes that the former Walking Dead star has been rumored to be in the running for the film since before Warner Bros. originally cast Hardy and guesses that Ayer has continued to campaign for his Fury actor.

Edgerton, on the other hand, hasn't worked with Ayer, but he was Hardy's costar in Warrior.

Whoever replaces Hardy will join Jared Leto, Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne and Viola Davis. Suicide Squad is set to open on Aug. 5, 2016.