The Thinker (DC Extended Universe)

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NOTE: This article is about the incarnation of The Thinker from the DC Extended Universe. The mainstream version can be found here: Thinker.

Evil-doer
Full Name	Gaius Grieves
Alias	The Thinker Grieves The Bad Man
Origin	The Suicide Squad
Occupation	Scientist
Powers / Skills	Enhanced intelligence Manipulation Charisma
Hobby	Clubbing.
Goals	Become part of Silvio Luna's inner circle (briefly succeeded). Expand his research on Starro and evade consequences for it. Escape from the Suicide Squad and preserve his own life (all failed).
Crimes	Unethical experimentation Torture Mass murder Child abuse Corruption Mutilation Conspiracy Animal cruelty Abuse of power Brainwashing Corpse desecration Unlawful imprisonment
Type of Villain	Opportunistic Scientist

“	Thinker: Oh please, unclutch your f**king pearls Flag! WE serve the same master. Ratcatcher 2: We were sent here to stop you! Thinker: Child, your government didn't send you here to protect the world from alien technology, your government sent you here to cover up THEIR part in it. Rick Flag: You're a goddamn liar! Thinker: American GODDAMN astronauts found Starro! YANKEE-F**KING-DOODLE DANDIES! Although the cold war was ended YOUR government saw the potential in weaponizing such a powerful beast, but banish the thought of any such experiments being held on American soil. Your people have always been squeamish!	„
	~ The Thinker revealing the truth behind Starro and the U.S Government's involvement with his work.

“	Let's just talk about this. I understand where you're coming from I crossed the line. Okay! I crossed the line! But I'm ready to change! I AM ready to change! Please! I didn't mean to hurt you!!	„
	~ Thinker's last words before killed by Starro.

Gaius Grieves, better known as The Thinker, is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Starro) of the 2021 film The Suicide Squad, the tenth instalment in the DC Extended Universe.

He was a man with telepathic abilities and enhanced intelligence, making him the top scientist in Corto Maltese and the chief behind the development of Project Starfish as well as a trusted ally of Silvio Luna, he is later forced into assisting Task Force X in infiltrating his base of operations Jotunheim to destroy all of his research.

He was portrayed by Peter Capaldi, who also played Angel Islington in Neverwhere, Ronnie Pilfrey in Fortysomething, Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It, and Cardinal Richelieu in The Musketeers.

Biography

Early Life

Gaius Grieves was a Glaswegian scientist based in Corto Maltese who was granted telepathic abilities and greatly enhanced intelligence thanks to a thinking cap he developed to help him advance his performance in his field, ultimately leading him into becoming the leading scientist in Corto Maltese and the man charged with overseeing Project Starfish, an investigation into an alien starfish like creature.

Over the next thirty years Grieves tortured and tormented the beast and allowed many individuals trying to investigate the inner operations of his research and Cotro Maltese in general such as journalists, rival politicians, etc and even his own personnel into becoming extensions of Project Starfish who he now dubbed as Starro the Conqueror thanks to the creature's nature of conquering the minds of others with its ability to produce multiple copies of itself that would latch onto a human host's face and turn them into a puppet upon killing them, something which The Thinker used to his advantage time and time again to do the previously mentioned deeds. Over the course of his research The Thinker would also constantly add and upgrade his Thinking Cap, granting him even further knowledge than he had previously.

When disbanding Task Force X teams to infiltrate Corto Maltese, Amanda Waller briefs team 2 comprised of Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, Peacemaker, Polka Dot Man and King Shark on what to do once they're in the city itself, part of this brief includes having them get The Thinker to help them enter Jotunheim by whatever means necessary.

The Suicide Squad

Grieves first appears while being walked into a meeting with President Luna and General Suarez, almost immediately he expresses his annoyance to both men for killing his employees and he and Suarez get into a heated fight before being broken up by Luna who asks Grieves for an update on Project Starfish to which he obliges, showing off the captive Starro as well as his research much to the simultaneous awe and horror of everyone present, he then uses this opportunity to woo his way into a position as one of Luna's top men.

That night Grieves attended the local club he frequents in order to relax only to be confronted by Bloodsport who held him at gunpoint and explained his plan to him, Grieves scoffed thinking the idea was ridiculous but nevertheless was forced to comply and taken by Ratcatcher 2 and Polka Dot Man to the bus which Task Force X was using where he was left handcuffed to a chair, awaiting the team to regroup thanks to a mishap involving Bloodsport, Rick Flag and Peacemaker allowing themselves to be arrested to create a diversion. Once the three men escape they all regroup in the bus only for Flag to decide to delay the Jotunheim mission further so they can rescue Harley Quinn who the three were informed by the soldiers escorting them was being held and tortured by Suarez. The rescue attempt turned out pointless in the end however as Harley had already broken out herself. With that the team threatened The Thinker with death should he betray them and reiterated their plan to blow up Jotunheim which Grieves was appalled to find would be a dangerous mission that would put all of their lives at risk although never the less was still forced into complying.

The Thinker reluctantly helped the team into Jotunheim by driving the bus through the security gate to avoid suspicion and then had his retinal scan forced upon him by Peacemaker much to his chagrin. Once inside he led Ratcatcher 2 and Flag to Starro and all of his victims while explaining the truth behind their mission, Starro itself and The Thinker's research as well as what the government and Waller have been hiding from them while going on to rant about America and how they're too afraid to do what he feels must be done for the purposes of science. An infuriated Flag takes the evidence necessary to expose Waller and prepares to leave only to be stopped by Peacemaker who reveals that he needs the information to stay hidden as Waller promised him a pardon in exchange for it, just as an argument began to break out between the two however the explosives arranged to blow up the base went off early thanks to a mishap involving Polka Dot Man resulting in Starro's containment being breached. When everyone including The Thinker came to and realised what had happened he asked in horror what they had done before trying to flee before Starro dragged him into its chamber.

The Thinker pleaded for his life with the creature but to no avail and in revenge for all the years of torture Starro killed Grieves by painfully tearing off his limbs then smashing him into a window, squeezing him to death. Following this Starro would then attempt to take control of Corto Maltese for itself feeling it was now entitled to it, justifying The Thinker's name for it even further now.

Ultimately the remaining members of the Suicide Squad managed to kill Starro and keep the evidence against Waller to themselves in order to blackmail her into releasing them, putting an end to all of The Thinker's machinations.

Personality

As his name would suggest The Thinker was a very intelligent man and a genius scientist, however he was also a self serving, narcissistic, opportunistic and ruthless individual willing to do quite literally anything to expand his ever-growing knowledge and research. He was also very immature and almost juvenile in behaviour and had little to no patience for anyone based on his explosive rant to Rick Flag and Ratcatcher 2. He also had a very sarcastic and condescending view of the world and those around him and was quite pessimistic, anxious and dismissive of the suicide squad upon being forced into assisting, them viewing their mission is practically impossible.

He also had a distaste for Americans, disliking them for being too clean in comparison to those in Corto Maltese, citing their reluctance and fearfulness over his continuing research on project starfish as "cowardice", especially since many officials in the government (including Amanda Waller) had ties to Corto Maltese's corruption and The Thinker's research.

Surprisingly however The Thinker was also quite social, frequenting a gentleman's club following his working day and is quite chatty with the squad themselves although in spite of this he didn't have any real friends and only had loyalties to himself or anyone who could give him what he wanted. He also is alluded to being quite kinky based mainly on his amused response to Ratcatcher 2's threat to command a horde of rats to go up his rectum.

Appearance

The Thinker was a handsome man in his earlier sixties and was tall and slender with pale skin, a gaunt face, blue eyes, thick black eyebrows and a bald, bulbous head with several wires and light bulbs sticking out of it due to the thinking cap embedded into his skull. He also had very prominent veins visible across his scalp. Clothing wise The Thinker was first seen wearing a blue tracksuit with white piping and a matching collar however when out partying he wore a crumpled navy blue suit alongside a Hawaiian shirt and blue trainers, this is the outfit he wears for the remainder of the film and in all of the marketing.

In a brief flashback to his earlier days he looked mostly the same only younger and with less wires in his head and bulging veins on his scalp, he also wore a white lab coat in this flashback.

Quotes

“	Supervillains... Sad souls in costumes, wanting you to think they're all dark and deep... What's it like, living life as a punchline? When all it would take is one blessed act of rebellion... For you to restore your dignity in its entirety...	„
	~ The Thinker's monologue from the theatrical trailer.

“	Ratcatcher 2: DO YOU WANT A DOZEN ANGRY RODENTS CRAWLING UP YOUR ASS?! Thinker: My answer might not be what you were expecting!	„
	~ The Thinker's response to Ratcatcher 2's threat to him.

“	This is suicide...	„
	~ The Thinker's reaction to Task Force X's plan.

“	THIS IS INSANE!	„
	~ The Thinker while being forced to escort the suicide squad into Jotunheim.

“	I call it Starro the Conquerer!	„
	~ The Thinker introducing Starro.

“	What have you people done?!	„
	~ The Thinker's reaction to Starro being set free.

Trivia

• This is the second live action incarnation of The Thinker following the Clifford DeVoe incarnation seen in the Arrowverse.
  • Related to the previous fact he is also the first version of The Thinker to appear on screen to not be based on Clifford DeVoe, with him primarily taking influence from the New 52 version of the character, most notably with his physical appearance.
• The Thinker is Peter Capaldi's first ever comic book movie role.
• Prior to release many mistakenly believed that this incarnation of The Thinker was Clifford DeVoe due to him being the most popular incarnation however James Gunn clarified this wasn't the case. Surely enough when the movie was released it was revealed that this was a new incarnation of The Thinker known as Gaius Grieves.
• James Gunn chose Peter Capaldi for the role of The Thinker after seeing him as Malcolm Tucker, something which becomes quite apparent towards the end of the film as The Thinker's monologue to Rick Flag and Ratcatcher 2 is uncannily similar to the stylings and even delivery of Malcolm Tucker's infamous rants.
  • Related to the previous fact, Peter Capaldi actually improvised half of his dialogue for the scene where The Thinker reveals Starro and the truth behind the US Government's involvement with it.
• After filming wrapped the crew gifted Peter Capaldi one of The Thinker's lightbulbs from his thinking cap as souvenir.
• In the "Roll Call" cast reveal The Thinker is seen shooting electricity out of his hands which is odd since he isn't able to do this in the film.
• A monologue from The Thinker seen nowhere in the film is heard at the start of the theatrical trailer for unknown reasons although it could be shown as a deleted scene on the DVD and Blu Ray releases of the film.
• The Thinker's thinking cap may actually be causing him physical damage in some ways as throughout the film The Thinker's scalp looks incredibly swollen with several bulging veins and he also wears a bandage over his left ear right next to where one of the lightbulbs stick out for the majority of the film.