Summary

  • Thanks to the DCU reboot, characters like Polka-Dot Man may get a chance to return to DC's on-screen franchise.
  • James Gunn's unique touch brought lesser-known characters like Polka-Dot Man to life in The Suicide Squad.
  • David Dastmalchian's talent makes him a strong candidate for other roles in the DCU, even if Polka-Dot Man doesn't return.

With the David Corenswet’s Superman leading the charge in Superman, which is slated for release in 2025. James Gunn has already confirmed that a litany of lesser-known characters will be ing in later installments, which is a cohort that the DC Studios Co-CEO has proven experience with.

James Gunn’s comic book credentials were established with Guardians of the Galaxy and cemented by his work on The Suicide Squad. The latter remains one of the the ending of The Suicide Squad.

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Since the announcement of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe in January 2023, many characters have been confirmed to the new franchise.

The DCU's Reboot Rules Could Undo The Suicide Squad's Most Unfair Death

Suicide Squad Idris Elba's Bloodsport flinches as Polka-Dot Man is squashed by Starro

Release Date
August 6, 2021
Director
James Gunn
Writers
James Gunn
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures

"It was swiftly after declaring that he was a real-life superhero that Polka-Dot man was unceremoniously crushed by one of Starro’s intact limbs"

The Suicide Squad saw a rebooted Task Force X comprising such new faces as Bloodsport, King Shark, Ratcatcher 2, and Polka-Dot Man going up against Starro the Destroyer in a bizarre yet entertaining final act. It was during this battle that Polka-Dot Man, a tortured character whose “powers” had been inflicted upon him by an abusive mother, finally found solace after contributing significantly to Starro’s death using his polka-dots. It was swiftly after declaring that he was a real-life superhero that Polka-Dot man was unceremoniously crushed by one of Starro’s intact limbs.

This death packed a significant sting thanks to Polka-Dot Man’s likability and character growth - but it can also be reversed given that the DCU is now an entirely new continuity. James Gunn has confirmed that Peacemaker season 2, which will assume the bulk of the previous season as common knowledge while foregoing its canonicity. As such, this provides ample room for Polka-Dot Man’s return.

Why David Dastmalchian Should Come Back In The DCU Even If Polka-Dot Man Doesn't

From being a henchman in Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy to playing Veb in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, David Dastmalchian has considerable experience playing roles in superhero movies and is also a fantastic actor. His credentials are growing more impressive, with his recent starring role in Late Night With The Devil being widely acclaimed. It isn’t hard to see Dastmalchian taking on another role in the DCU such as Scarecrow, which he has already expressed an interest in.

The actor also has an established history of working with James Gunn after having first played a role in The Belko Experiment, which Gunn wrote. Like many auteurs, Gunn has a track record of re-casting actors in his projects - including Nathan Fillion and Sean Gunn, to name a couple. While Dastmalchian’s Polka-Dot Man is certainly one of his more memorable roles, if Gunn deems it unnecessary to revive him for the DCU, then there are still plenty of other roles that the actor could capably embody.