David Ayer Advocates For ‘Suicide Squad’ Director’s Cut: “The Best Version Simply Has Not Been Seen”
David Ayer at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con.
Filmmaker David Ayer has once again expressed his desire to see his director’s cut of ‘Suicide Squad’ released.
Ayer, who has been vocal for years about wanting his version of the 2016 Warner Bros. film to be unveiled, took to social media on Thursday to share a new image featuring Jared Leto’s highly talked about Joker.
Much like when Zack Snyder was campaigning for his version of ‘Justice League’ to be released (appropriately titled ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’), Ayer has been sharing glimpses of his true version of the film on social media since ‘Suicide Squad’ first premiered back in 2016.
The poorly-received 2017 superhero team-up film ‘Justice League’ was initially completed by Joss Whedon when Snyder stepped away after a family tragedy, and received a fan-driven campaign under the hashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut to help restore his original vision. This ultimately led to HBO Max releasing Snyder’s four-hour cut in 2021, which was a hit with fans and positively rated by critics.
‘Suicide Squad,’ which follows a group of DC Comics villains teaming up, starred Will Smith as Deadshot, Jared Leto as Joker, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.
“I hope my real film can be shared one day,” Ayer wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alongside the promotional image. “I appreciate the continued support and interest.” He also included the hashtag #ReleaseTheAyerCut.
When one user suggested Ayer’s desire for a director’s cut implied the original film wasn’t strong enough, the filmmaker responded, “The best version simply has not been seen. It’s hard for someone outside the industry to understand how drastically different [two] cuts of a film can be. If you didn’t like what you saw, this would be a chance to see what I truly intended—and then judge based on that.”
Ayer, who recently directed the Jason Statham thriller ‘The Beekeeper,’ admitted uncertainty about whether Warner Bros. or DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran would approve releasing his cut. Gunn, who directed the 2021 sequel ‘The Suicide Squad,’ featured returning cast members Robbie, Kinnaman, and Davis alongside new additions like Idris Elba and John Cena.
“Honestly, I have no idea if WB would ever release my version,” Ayer acknowledged. “I defer to James and the studio to handle it however they see fit. It’s not within my control. But I do think it would be fun for those interested to see my cut. If it’s not for you, I totally understand. Everyone has different tastes.”
Ayer also addressed skepticism about the feasibility of releasing his version so long after the original. To one user who doubted it would happen, he replied, “If it happens, cool. If it doesn’t, cool. It’s not that deep. I just think you deserve the chance to see it and make up your mind. If it’s not your thing, that’s fine too.”
While ‘Suicide Squad’ earned $749 million at the global box office, it was considered a disappointment by many fans and critics, holding a 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In a review for ‘The Hollywood Reporter,’ Todd McCarthy described the film as “part smart-ass genre sendup, part grimy noir that wants to be as dirty as ‘Deadpool’ but remains constrained by its PG-13 rating, and part failed attempt by Warner Bros. to nail a big-budget DC Comics mashup.” He noted that the film started with promise but ultimately lost its creative direction.
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