Hardy was to have played Rick Flagg, the leader of the group that consists of Batman villains Deadshot (Smith), Joker (Leto) and Harley Quinn (Robbie), plus Boomerang (Courtney) and Enchantress (Delevingne).

Hardy dropped out in mid-January ostensibly over scheduling reasons. But script issues were also a factor. When the movie was being initially cast, the actors were signing on without actually having read the screenplay, as it was still being written.

Joel Edgerton and Jon Bernthal are other actors that were being considered for the role, according to sources, but Kinnaman appears to be the choice at this stage.

??Insiders caution that any deal being discussed could fall apart.

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