The Reason Scott Eastwood Dropped Out Of The 'Suicide Squad' Sequel

When one thinks of Scott Eastwood, the name Clint Eastwood may come to mind. Clint is a Hollywood legend and has made a name for himself as an actor turned director. Scott has tried to follow in his father's footsteps to make his own mark in the film industry.

The younger Eastwood already has over a decade worth of experience in Hollywood. He has garnered modest acclaim - starring in some blockbusters and independent films. "Suicide Squad" (2016) stands out among his acting credits due to Scott's decision to reject the opportunity to return in its sequels.

Although fans were initially not privy to his reasons, the actor has come out to share his thoughts in a recent interview.

After having a limited screen time in the 2016 installment of "Suicide Squad," Scott was approached by Warner Bros. to reprise his role in future sequels of the covert-based action blockbuster. At the time, the "Invictus" actor considered signing the three-picture deal but refused to commit as he was not comfortable with the contract.

"They didn't want to pay me any money for those next movies, and they didn't have another script for the other movie, so I didn't know what I was going to be signing myself up for," Eastwood told The Insider.

Scott sought the advice of his father to help him decide. The actor believed Clint's years of experience in the industry would be invaluable to him.

"I called my dad," he recalled. "I said, 'They don't want to pay me.'" "He said, 'If it feels like they really need you and if it's a good part, then do it. If not, then don't.'"

Following his conversation with his father, Scott thought long and hard about what to do. He realized that he had no answers to his father's suggestions.

In the end, the deal did not happen as Scott refused to cave in to the pressures from the showrunners without being sure if he wanted the part.

Despite the similarities in their career path and having a father-son relationship, there seems to be a lack of regular communication between Scott and Clint.

In his interview with The Insider, Scott confessed that he and Clint don't communicate very often, stating their conversations are "not daily, maybe once a quarter." However, when he requires business advice, the actor claimed his father will always be his first point of call.

Ultimately, Clint's suggestion to his son helped prevent the actor from signing the deal that confirms his feature in subsequent sequels. In the long run, Scott's decision seemed to pan out well. Most of the characters from Ayer's version of "Suicide Squad" that reappeared for James Gunn's reboot in 2021 got killed off in the film.

Scott told Esquire back in 2016 about what he gleaned during his years of growing up under the tutelage of Hollywood's most renowned tough man "My father's definitely old-school. And he raised me with integrity — to be in places on time, show up and work hard."

He also hinted that the next step in his career might lead him to work permanently behind the camera, like his father.

"It's feast or famine for an actor," Scott explained. "If you're not generating your own content, you're simply battling for what's available. I have a strong yearning to travel to the other side."

In the meantime, Scott is choosing his next movie features carefully. The actor has three criteria that must be checked before committing to the role: a great director, a good script, and talented co-stars.

After quitting the "Suicide Squad" franchise, Eastwood joined the "Fast & Furious" franchise, starring as Little Nobody in 2017's "The Fate of the Furious." He then landed a leading role in 2018's "Pacific Rim: Uprising."

His highest critical acclaim came in a small independent film dubbed "The Outpost." The Rod Lurie action war thriller chronicled the 2009 Battle of Kamdesh, in which 300 Taliban militants stormed and almost gained possession of Combat Outpost Keating, a tiny American-run station.

Eastwood delivered an enthralling and passionate act as Medal of Honor winner Clint Romesha in the 2020 film. Amazingly, he starred in the role while recuperating from an injury to his ankle, further shinning the spotlight on his dedication and extraordinary work ethic as an actor.

His last acting credit came in the 2021 films "Wrath of Man" and "Dangerous." Scott will also reprise his roles in the "Fast and Furious" franchise and the "Pacific Rim" sequel.