Mel Gibson is reportedly in talks to direct a sequel to super-villain film Suicide Squad.

The Hollywood Reporter says the actor and director, whose war epic Hacksaw Ridge is nominated for six Oscars, has been approached by Warner Brothers.

David Ayer directed the first film, which is one of the biggest critical flops of the past year.

It has a crushing 26% rating on movie website Rotten Tomatoes and a 40% score on Metacritic.

Ayer was forced to defend the film when early reviews began to emerge.


"I love the movie and believe in it," he tweeted at the time.

"Made it for the fans."

Even with the mostly negative reviews, the movie grossed $745m (£596m) worldwide.

Image: Suicide Squad got mostly bad reviews

Reports of Gibson "familiarising himself" with the sequel project suggest a change in style for DC Comics.

The 61-year-old actor and director is known for choosing his projects carefully, and has been hailed for his work with Braveheart, Apocalypto and The Passion Of The Christ.

Hacksaw Ridge has been nominated for best picture, best actor, best director, film editing, sound editing and sound mixing.

Ayer reportedly had conflicts with Warner during production of the first film, but his relationship with DC Comics will continue.

He is already developing a film centred on Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn and other DC female villains titled Gotham City Sirens.

Suicide Squad told the story of comic book villains Deadshot, Harley Quinn, the Joker, Captain Boomerang and Killer Croc, who are forced into the service of the government.