Suicide Squad: James Gunn says filming movie has been a ‘hard, hard time’ in emotional statement

Director’s father died just before film shoot commenced

James Gunn has revealed that filming The Suicide Squad was an emotional process for him, as he was also coping with the death of his father and his pet dog.

The writer and director shared an emotional Instagram post to announce that the superhero film had wrapped filming on Saturday (29 February).

Alongside a picture of the cast and crew, he wrote: “And that’s a wrap on #TheSuicideSquad. My father died two weeks before we started filming and my dog died two weeks before the end.

“It was a hard, hard time in my life and yet the most fulfilling time I’ve ever had making a movie.”

He added: “The professionalism, talent, compassion and kindness of this cast and crew inspired me every day.

“Thanks to everyone involved in this film, in every stage of development, in every department – I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for you all. You are why I make movies.”

Gunn signed up to direct The Suicide Squad after he was fired from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. His dismissal occurred after old tweets emerged in which he made jokes about paedophilia and rape.

In the aftermath, Guardians of the Galaxy cast members including Bradley Cooper and Chris Pratt wrote an open letter supporting Gunn, leading Marvel to backtrack and re-hire him. He will re-commence work on the film after The Suicide Squad is completed.