Suicide Squad: Tom Hardy drops out of David Ayer film and Jake Gyllenhaal already named as possible replacement

The British actor has reportedly pulled out of the film due to scheduling clashes

English actor Tom Hardy is understood to have pulled out of the upcoming Suicide Squad film (Getty Images)

Tom Hardy has pulled out of the highly-anticipated DC comics-based film Suicide Squad, but producers may have already replaced him with Jake Gyllenhaall, it has been reported.

The film, directed by David Ayer, follows a group of villains from DC’s comic book series, including the Joker, Deadshot, Harley Quinn and Enchantress, as they undertake dangerous Government black ops missions in exchange for clemency.

Tom Hardy was set to play Rick Flag who, in the comics, is an elite soldier who leads the Suicide Squad. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hardy has had to pull out of the film due to scheduling issues.

He is currently filming The Revenant, a Western drama, with Leonardo DiCaprio, and the filming is reportedly taking longer than expected, while he is also expected to appear on a publicity tour for his upcoming film Mad Max: Fury Road, which will open in May this year. Suicide Squad is expected to hit cinemas in summer 2016.

Gyllenhaal, who has previously worked with Ayer on End Of Watch, has already been approached to replace Hardy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The rest of the cast remains in place however, with Margot Robbie set to play Harley Quinn, the Joker’s on-off girlfriend in the Batman comics, Jared Leto as the Joker, Cara Delavigne as Enchantress, and Will Smith as the world’s greatest marksman, Deadshot. Jesse Eisenberg has been rumoured to reprise his role as Superman arch-rival Lex Luthor also.