Marvel andDCalumDavid Dastmalchianwants to work again with his long-time friend and collaborator James Gunn after their shared work onThe SuicideSquad. David Dastmalchian played one of the main characters in James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad. In it, Dastmalchian took Polka-Dot Man from DC Comics' laughingstock villain to a show-stealing anti-hero.
At San-Diego Comic-Con 2025,David Dastmalchian talked toScreenRant’s Ash Crossan about the possibility of playing a DC character again.Dastmalchian praised James Gunn as an artist and as a person and described the DC Studios CEO as a close friend. Due to their friendship, Dastmalchian is more than willing to join Gunn’s DCU whenever he’s called. Read Dastmalchian’s full response:
Screen Rant:You mentioned Superman. Do you think you’ll show up in DC again? Different character you want to play, or have you and James talked about that at all?
David Dastmalchian:“Never, we’ve never talked about it.”
Screen Rant:I don’t believe it.
David Dastmalchian:“I talk to James all the time; he’s one of my best friends. But it’s interesting when you really are close to somebody. It’s nice that we don’t talk about work very much. It is nice to have somebody, you can talk about family, and life, and whatever. He’s also not just one of the great filmmakers of our time, he’s just one of my favorite humans. So, we end up talking about other matters, and I always love hearing what he’s up to, and what he’s doing.
He’s the busiest person I know, and he’s got the biggest weight on his shoulders of anyone in Hollywood. He’s carrying it with grace and with an amazing, just inspiring presence and leadership. I have now seen Superman multiple times, I felt when watching it the way I felt as a kid the first time I saw Donner’s Superman, the first time I saw Tim Burton’s Batman. I just felt like somebody who was showing us an entirely new way to do a superhero movie. And it touched my heart in such a deep way, and it felt like such an important movie for this summer.
And I’m always like the fireman, I’m always ready, I’ve got my bag ready. If James were to call me tomorrow and say, “Hey, do you want to come do this thing?” I’d be there. I’d be there before we got off the phone. I hope and pray I get a chance to be on a James Gunn set again at some point in my life, because it was one of the best sets I’ve ever been on.”
What David Dastmalchian’s DC Return Comments Mean
James Gunn Could Bring David Dastmalchian Into The DCU
David Dastmalchian has a strong chance of returning to the DCU, thanks in part to his long-standing collaboration and real-life friendship with James Gunn. Gunn has already brought back several of his past collaborators, includingseveral returning DCEU actorslike Viola Davis and Nathan Fillion, as well as behind-the-scenes talent. Dastmalchian, who played Polka-Dot Man inThe Suicide Squad, could follow suit.
John Cena’s return forPeacemakerseason 2 in the new DCU sets a major precedent. WhilePolka-Dot Man died inThe Suicide Squad, the DCU reboot could undo his demise and make him a recurring character in the new continuity. After his well-received introduction inThe Suicide Squad, Dastmalchian’s Polka-Dot Man could have a longer arc alongside other DCU characters like Peacemaker.
Alternatively, Dastmalchian could follow the same path as other Gunn collaborators and rejoin the DCU in an entirely new role. Michael Rooker, for example, played Savant inThe Suicide Squadbut now plays a brand-new character, Red St. Wild, inPeacemakerseason 2. Dastmalchian has the range to pull off multiple roles, whether comedic, tragic, or villainous.
Our Take On David Dastmalchian’s DC Return Comments
David Dastmalchian Is Likely To Join The DCU In The Future
David Dastmalchian’s deep comic book movie resumé makes him a strong contender for another DC role in the near future.Dastmalchian has already portrayed two different DC characters: Joker follower Thomas Schiff inThe Dark Knightand Polka-Dot Man inThe Suicide Squad. On the Marvel side, Dastmalchian played Kurt in theAnt-Manmovies and voiced Veb inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
With two DC and two Marvel credits already under his belt, a third DC appearance would feel like a natural continuation of David Dastmalchian’s comic book filmography. At SDCC 2025,Dastmalchian also joked that Marvel hasn’t called him back. Whether it’s reprising Polka-Dot Man or taking on a brand-new character, DC Studios has every reason to bring David Dastmalchian back into the fold.
