When a series of big names are linked to a movie project, it usually turns out that one or two might be accurate.

However Warner Brothers have pulled out all the stops with their upcoming Suicide Squad movie - and almost all the top talent mooted for the project has actually been recruited.

The studio has confirmed that Jared Leto will play The Joker, Will Smith will play Deadshot, Tom Hardy (who played Bane in the last Batman film) will now portray Rick Flag and The Wolf Of Wall Street star Margot Robbie will play Harley Quinn.

Jai Courtney will play Boomerang and British supermodel Cara Delevingne is set for what could be her highest-profile acting role yet as Enchantress.

Variety also reports that Jesse Eisenberg is in talks to appear as Lex Luthor, a role he's set to play in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice.

Directed by David Ayer, the movie follows a group of villains recruited by desperate authorities for a mission deemed too dangerous for anyone else.

It is set to enter production in Canada next April and is earmarked for release in the summer of 2016.

Warner Brothers president Greg Silverman said: "The Warner Bros. roots are deep on this one.

"We look forward to seeing this terrific ensemble, under David Ayer's amazing guidance, give new meaning to what it means to be a villain and what it means to be a hero."