The Suicide Squad has finished filming ahead of its release in 2021, director James Gunn has announced. The director announced the news in a Instagram post where he also shared some tragic personal news. Gunn shared that his father passed away weeks before filming began and his dog died just before the end of filming.

　　"It was a hard, hard time in my life and yet the most fulfilling time I’ve ever had making a movie," he said. "The professionalism, talent, compassion and kindness of this cast and crew inspired me every day. Thanks to everyone involved in this film, in every stage of development, in every department--I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for you all. You are why I make movies."

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　　And that’s a wrap on #TheSuicideSquad. My father died two weeks before we started filming and my dog died two weeks before the end. It was a hard, hard time in my life and yet the most fulfilling time I’ve ever had making a movie. The professionalism, talent, compassion and kindness of this cast and crew inspired me every day. Thanks to everyone involved in this film, in every stage of development, in every department - I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for you all. You are why I make movies. ❤️

　　A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn) on Feb 28, 2020 at 3:46pm PST

　　The Suicide Squad comes to theatres in August 2021, which is still a very long time away. The rest of the production schedule will presumably include post-production efforts like visual effects and any reshoots, if necessary.

　　The Suicide Squad is not exactly a sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad, but instead a film that stands on its own. Gunn wrote the script, but plot details are under wraps. What we do know is that Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie is coming back, while Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, and Jai Courtney are also returning to reprise their characters. Will Smith, however, won't be back as Deadshot, while Jared Leto is not returning as Joker.

　　The film will feature a long list of famous actors in undisclosed roles, including Nathan Fillion, Peter Capaldia, Pete Davidson, Idris Elba, John Cena, Flula Borg, Michael Rooker, Taika Waititi, and more.

　　Gunn signed on to write and direct The Suicide Squad for rival studio Warner Bros. after Disney fired him from the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Disney eventually reinstated Gunn for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which he will direct after he finishes his responsibilities for The Suicide Squad.

　　2016's Suicide Squad was bashed by critics, but it made more than $746 million globally at the box office and won an Oscar.