Suicide Squad writer-director David Ayer recently promised fans that his edit of the 2016 DC Extended Universe blockbuster was superior to the theatrical cut.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, Ayer insisted that his version of Suicide Squad was "utterly re-engineered" by DC Films and Warner Bros. Pictures during post-production. "The nature of the film was fundamentally changed," he tweeted. "I'm looking you in the eye telling you this. My cut is vastly better." Ayer added that the difference between the cut of Suicide Squad shown in cinemas and the so-called "Ayer Cut" amounted to more than "a couple [of] cut scenes being added" during reshoots.
Many DCEU fans continue to lobby DC Films (now DC Studios) and Warner Bros. to release the Ayer Cut, more than half a decade after Suicide Squad's release. Recently appointed DC Studios co-chair and co-CEO James Gunn acknowledged the #ReleaseTheAyerCut campaign in November 2022, tweeting that he and co-chair and co-CEO Peter Safran are mindful of fans' "different desires for the pathways forward for DC." At the same time, Gunn seemingly shot down hopes that the Ayer Cut will see the light of day any time soon, stating that he and Safran are currently focused on the new DC Universe (which has effectively replaced the DCEU).
Suicide Squad Director Discusses the Ayer Cut
Ayer nevertheless remains optimistic that his version of Suicide Squad could one day be released. The filmmaker said as much following Gunn and Safran's appointment as joint DC Studios bosses, although he acknowledged the Ayer Cut's debut was a long-term goal. He also had warm words for Gunn, who wrote and directed 2021's The Suicide Squad, which served as a standalone sequel to the 2016 original. "[Gunn's] always been a good guy," Ayer tweeted. "[He] has been incredibly respectful to me. As far as my cut -- Of course I want it seen. And I believe there's a real shot at it. It just won't be tomorrow."
Ayer has positive things to say about the DC fanbase, too. The following month, he tweeted that he even appreciates the more negative pockets of the franchise's fandom, arguing that they reflect the enduring appeal of DC's heroes and villains. "I always saw the negativity as a testament to the power of these characters. There’s something deeply mythological in them that ignites passion on both sides," he wrote.
Suicide Squad is currently streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Twitter