The all-star Suicide Squad cast just lost one of its brightest. Tom Hardy dropped out Thursday, leaving the DC Comics movie adaptation without a Rick Flagg.
The Warner Bros. summer tentpole directed by David Ayer (Fury, Training Day) follows classic DC villains who are forced to become heroes. Will Smith, Margot Robie and Jared Leto are starring as Batman villains Deadshot, Harley Quinn and the Joker, respectively. Ayer’s first pick for Hardy’s replacement is Jake Gyllenhaal, according to The Wrap.
Hardy’s rep said the actor was leaving the film due to a tight schedule.
The Dark Knight Rises star is currently shooting Oscar nominee and Birdman director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s next film, a Western with Leonardo DiCaprio called The Revenant, which is running over schedule. Hardy is also committed to a press tour for this summer’s Mad Max: Fury Road.
Suicide Squad is set to hit theaters Aug. 5, 2016.
[The Wrap]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Stop Looking for Your Forever Home
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com