Director David Ayer’s Original Version of ‘Suicide Squad’ Will Eventually See the Light of Day

THE OVERVIEW
Filmmaker David Ayer is optimistic that his original version of Suicide Squad will at last be unveiled, as assured by James Gunn. Ayer is confident that his unreleased cut surpasses the theatrical version and acknowledges the genuine interest of the audience. The calls for Ayer’s cut have intensified following the premiere of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, with a significant number of deleted scenes featuring Jared Leto’s Joker.

Seven years since the debut of David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, the heavily criticized film continues to be a hot topic for cinephiles, primarily due to the director’s outspoken disappointment with the film’s final cut. However, fans of the DC franchise still have reason to hope, as Ayer shared that James Gunn, the studio’s co-CEO, assured him that his original cut of the movie will ultimately get the recognition it deserves.

Ayer, who had been vocal in the past about his dissatisfaction with the theatrically released cut of the film—which he described as being “torn apart” by edits—maintains his belief that his initial vision for the 2016 movie is greatly superior to what was ultimately delivered to viewers. In a Twitter conversation, Ayer shared his experiences post the movie’s initial release and discussed the potential of a new cut, asking, “How should I handle this situation gracefully? There’s authentic interest and curiosity from many people. And I’m aware that there’s another group of people who take pleasure in ridiculing the movie.” Responding to a fan, he added, “Your remark exemplifies how many are negatively attracted to the discussion about the 2016 film. Have you ever experienced something in life that didn’t pan out as you wished, that upset you, that made you reconsider everything? I certainly have.”

Ayer further stated, “I can confirm that my unseen film is far better than the studio’s version. The demand to see my cut seems genuine and organic. And Gunn assured me that it will have its moment to be revealed.” However, the exact timing remains uncertain, as the director acknowledged that Gunn and his co-CEO Peter Safran are focused on creating a new cinematic franchise. Ayer stated, “He undoubtedly deserves to initiate his DC universe without further controversies about previous projects.”

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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Demands for Ayer’s Cut gained momentum following the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League—a director’s cut of the negatively reviewed 2017 film which aimed to present the director’s original concept for the project—

finally made possible due to a fan-led online campaign. A considerable portion of what was excluded from Ayer’s film involves Jared Leto’s Joker, who made a brief appearance in Snyder’s alternative Justice League. Ayer labeled the deleted scenes as “chilling,” while hailing Leto’s performance as “extraordinary.” Leto himself had previously advocated for an Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad; discussing the likelihood back in 2021, Leto suggested, “Absolutely! Why not? Why wouldn’t they? That’s what streaming is for, right?”

While there’s no official release date for the Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad yet, stay tuned for Gunn’s roadmap for the DCU slate here.

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