Written By Kieran Bugg and Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
David Ayer has provided fans with a promising update on his original version of 2016’s Suicide Squad. Dubbed The Ayer Cut, it is reportedly a darker, deeper film than the theatrical release. As with Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the previous Warner Bros. regime slashed and burned The Ayer Cut. Suicide Squad apparently had little resemblance to director David Ayer’s vision.
In the run-up to 2016, hype for superhero movies was at an all-time high. Particularly for DC who were finally about to go all in with their plans for a shared cinematic universe. Snyder’s Man of Steel may have kick-started the franchise, but Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was going to launch it into the stratosphere.
David Ayer Delivers Positive Update On Improved Suicide Squad Cut
Image: Warner Bros. Discovery
In any case, since BvS didn’t bring in Avengers big bucks, WB decided the reason why is because it wasn’t upbeat enough. In other words, like the MCU.
As a result, David Ayer’s Suicide Squad was subjected to unnecessary studio interference. Therefore, they tried to give it a Guardians of the Galaxy makeover. For example, they pumped up the soundtrack with classic rock.
Upon release fans and critics alike were utterly disappointed with the end result. Suicide Squad actually fared better with $325.1 million in the U.S. and Canada. Although reviewers bashed it, audiences couldn’t resist seeing Will Smith as DC Comics antihero Deadshot.
Still, from the get-go, you could tell that it wasn’t the same movie that David Ayer originally envisioned. Nonetheless, Suicide Squad made somewhat of a splash at the worldwide box office. In addition, it even went on to win the Oscar for Best Hair and Make-Up.
But that didn’t stop the world from wanting to see the original more bleak and serious cut of Suicide Squad. When Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder’s Justice League, hopes of seeing The Ayer Cut skyrocketed. It became one of the top trending hashtags on Twitter and actually still is to this day.
Unfortunately, those hopes were soon dashed when Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav approved the formation of DC Studios. And James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed as co-CEOs for the franchise going forward.
With that the DCEU officially ended.
David Ayer Delivers Positive Update On Improved Suicide Squad Cut
Image: David Ayer
Nonetheless, hope never dies. Via Twitter, David Ayer confirmed that he’s spoken with Gunn. While he didn’t exactly say what their conversation was about, we have a good idea of what was brought up.
Responding to a user’s question, the acclaimed director posted:
“I spoke to him a while ago. All with patience. He has the right to put together his new universe before visiting the past. Cheer up. Good things are coming!”
Notice how he said “before visiting the past.” This essentially means that Gunn might have plans to revisit earlier earlier DC franchises. Which would include The Ayer Cut.
In the past, Gunn voiced his support for the release of The Ayer Cut. Hopefully, this means that he now has the authority to release the definitive version of Suicide Squad to the world.
Sounds like good things really are coming.