James Gunn says watching the 2016 predecessor to The Suicide Squad isn't necessary to understand his movie.In answering questions about his upcoming film on Twitter, writer/director Gunn responded to a question about whether watching the first Suicide Squad was essential to enjoying the new movie. "No, you will be just fine," Gunn replied.RELATED: HBO Max 'Same Day Premiere' Trailer Showcases Sopranos Prequel & More

This echoes claims star Joel Kinnaman made in an interview with CBR this week: "This film lives in a world somewhere between a sequel and a reboot. We have some of the characters from the first film, and it is, you know, a continuation of sorts, but it really feels like a completely new universe."

Since the follow-up film by Gunn was announced, fans have been perplexed as to whether the film is a reboot or sequel. After all, it features many returning cast members, including Kinnaman and Margot Robbie. But the tone, marketing and nearly identical name point towards a reboot, despite only five years having passed since the previous film. With few details known about the plot, it remains unclear if story elements from the first movie will carry over. Complicating things further is the inconsistent continuity of DC films, once loosely united as the DC Extended Universe.

Gunn is almost finished with The Suicide Squad and said fans should be patient about the release of a full trailer. Meanwhile, Gunn teased that he was filming for the spinoff Peacemaker today with the stars of the HBO Max series.

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The 10th film set in the DCEU will feature several returning cast members from 2016's Suicide Squad, but will also be debuting several characters from DC that have yet to make a big-screen debut, including Idris Elba's Bloodsport, Peter Capaldi's The Thinker and Pete Davidson's Blackguard.

Written and directed by James Gunn, The Suicide Squad stars Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Michael Rooker as Savant, Flula Borg as Javelin, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, Mayling NG as Mongal, Peter Capaldi as The Thinker, Alice Braga as Solsoria, Steve Agee as King Shark, Pete Davidson as Blackguard, Nathan Fillion as TDK, Sean Gunn as Weasel, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, John Cena as Peacemaker, Taika Waititi and Storm Reid. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on Aug. 6, 2021.

Written and produced by James Gunn, Peacemaker stars John Cena, Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Jennifer Holland, Chris Conrad, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lochlyn Munro, Annie Chang and Christopher Heyerdahl. The eight-episode series has yet to receive an HBO Max premiere date.

Source: Twitter