Viola Davis confirms Suicide Squad role as “Amanda Waller”

Everyone’s favorite Shondaland lawyer has some big news for the world. Viola Davis herself has confirmed that she will be taking up the role of Amanda Waller in the upcoming Suicide Squad live-action film. Nerdreport.com spoke to the actress herself at the Blackhat press junket. Davis says she has yet to delve into the comics history of Amanda, and that she’s still working out her Suicide Squad filming schedule.

“I’m fascinated by her. I’m fascinated by her in this world of superhero-ness because she is not a woman that you would expect. I think that she is a massive contradiction. She’s this big powerful black woman, hard, ready to pick up a gun and shoot anyone at will. I’m fascinated in exploring her psychology, just put it that way. And I’m excited to pick up a gun.”

Amanda Waller came to mainstream prominence as a supporting character on Justice League Unlimited played by C.C.H. Pounder. Since then Pounder has voiced the role in a variety of DC Animated Films. More recently the character appeared in the CW show Arrow played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and before that, Pam Grier took up the role on Smallville. This will be the second feature film to have Amanda Waller grace the screen after Angela Bassett played her in the 2011 bomb, Green Lantern. However Amanda Waller has long since been a popular character in the pages of the Suicide Squad comic book since the late 1980s. We look forward to seeing Viola Davis take up the mantle of ‘The Wall.’