Board Thread:DC Universe Discussion/@comment-3974095-20130611233337/@comment-5624498-20150729031229

LoveWaffle wrote:

Based on the promo material, it appears the members of the Squad are: Rick Flagg, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Enchantress, Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc, Katana, El Diablo, and Slipknot. Not that you really get a sense of that from the trailer, much less what their names are. (Seriously, none of the characters are even named in the trailer.) Compare that to the first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy. You know, that other comic book movie starring a bunch of roguish characters who came together in prison and had limited name recognition. Just look at how it starts. Djimon Hounsou corners Chris Pratt and asks who he is. When he answers with "Star-Lord," Hounsou has the same confused response a lot of the people watching that trailer for the first time also had. Most of that trailer is dedicated to introducing the five main characters, correctly assuming most people don't know who these characters are to begin with. Therein lies the problem. If people who aren't familiar with the Squad don't get an idea about who the characters are, they aren't going to see the film. It remains to be seen what the next trailer looks like, but it needs to do a good job conveying who the major characters are and don't just assume people will buy into based on jokes, sex appeal or whatever studio execs think is the hook.

GotG certainly benefitted from strong reviews, but if people didn't get a sense of who the characters were, they wouldn't have their interest initially sparked.