David Ayer Fights for ‘Suicide Squad’ Director’s Cut, But Gunn’s Delay Logic Prevails

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The DC Universe franchise recently made its comeback with the launch of Creature Commandos a few months ago and is gearing up to debut its first summer movie, James Gunn’s Superman. This might make us forget that just under a decade ago, the DCEU was still in its early stages. After Man of Steel hit screens in 2013, 2016 saw Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. Similar to Justice League in 2017, the cinematic version of Suicide Squad didn’t reflect director David Ayer’s original vision, and he’s been advocating for the release of the “Ayer Cut” ever since. Yet, he also admits that Gunn’s rationale behind delaying this release now seems valid.

In a recent conversation about the movie “A Working Man,” which begins its theater run this weekend as part of the 2025 film schedule, Ayer was inquired by THR if there has been any news from Warner Bros. Discovery regarding the potential release of his version of “Suicide Squad” known as the “Ayer Cut.” Ayer confirmed that the situation remains the same, implying that no progress has been made on this matter.

Absolutely, I can confirm. In my conversation with James [Gunn], he emphasized the importance of establishing a strong foundation first. Given DC’s rich history and legacy, it requires effort to rebuild its intellectual property (IP) and steer it towards their desired direction. Therefore, it is indeed reasonable for them to proceed in this manner.

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David Ayer, director of Suicide Squad, maintains that his original version is among the finest comic book movies ever produced. Fans are urging for the release of the Ayer Cut version instead.

David Ayer openly discusses the ongoing criticisms he encounters each time a new DC film is released, expressing his belief that it feels unfairly biased: “It seems quite unfair when I’m judged like this every time a fresh DC movie arrives.

Beyond his responsibilities as a writer and director for Superman, Creature Commandos (set for a second season) and Peacemaker Season 2, which is scheduled for August 2025 on TV, James Gunn shares the leadership role at DC Studios with Peter Safran. This means he would be the one to decide if The Ayer Cut ever becomes available. Interestingly, it seems that he’s open to this idea rather than dismissing it outright. This is a more hopeful stance compared to David Ayer’s statement in January 2024, where he declared his efforts for the original version of Suicide Squad were over.

Regarding this topic, similar to David Ayer, I can empathize with James Gunn’s perspective. The DC Universe is still in its infancy, requiring some time to solidify its identity across the forthcoming DC films and television series that have been announced officially. Ayer further added:

Indeed, given enough passage of time, it might become a sentimental favorite for many. Regardless, I firmly believe that the hard work put into 2016’s Suicide Squad should be acknowledged by all viewers. I take great pride in my contributions to that project. However, it’s not my intellectual property or studio, so I can empathize with James’ decisions and I think he’ll achieve significant successes in the paths he’s chosen.

30 years have passed since Batman Forever premiered, yet enthusiasm for the “Schumacher Cut” of Val Kilmer’s solo performance as Batman persists. Regrettably, no advancements have been made to bring about its release, and it remains uncertain if the Ayer Cut will meet with any success. However, given that Zack Snyder’s Justice League was ultimately released on streaming platforms and physical media, I believe that the original Suicide Squad directed by David Ayer deserves the same chance.

Perhaps, as we distance ourselves from the discontinuation of the DCEU, releasing the Ayer Cut could evoke a sense of nostalgia that the director spoke of. Until that happens, it seems like Ayer is eagerly anticipating what the DC Universe has in store, which encompasses movies such as “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” and “Clayface,” and shows including “Lanterns” and “Paradise Lost.

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2025-03-26 04:37