Certain movies fail to create an impact critically even after raking in millions at the box office. David Ayer’s 2016 released Suicide Squad easily comes under this category. The out-of-the-box superhero project went on to make $746.8 million, against a budget of $175 million but failed to impress the critics.
After Suicide Squad was brutally hammered by the critics, the filmmaker is quite optimistic about releasing Ayer’s Cut shortly. The filmmaker had confirmed it previously and yet again showed a green signal to his highly esteemed project on social media recently.
David Ayer Is Quite Optimistic About The Ayer’s Cut Release Of Suicide Squad
David Ayer believes there was much more to Margot Robbie and Will Smith’s Suicide Squad. With an out-of-the-box storyline, a stellar cast, and the cushioning of the reputed production house Suicide Squad had all the elements to become one of the biggest blockbusters of 2016.
The superhero movie did create a mark at the box office, but the critics were left unimpressed. Recently, David Ayer was questioned by a fan on X about how Ayer’s cut stands differently in comparison to the previous one.
https://twitter.com/realgentlemanty/status/1742026378097176814
The Beekeeper filmmaker straightaway answered the question explaining how his version of Suicide Squad stands out in comparison to the previous one.
“It’s not a matter of a new scene or two. I honestly cannot think of a director cut/studio cut with more difference between them. A lot of the popular issues with SS16 are endemic to the studio version. I made a drama, not a clown show. I made a great movie.”
Asked and answered.
It’s honestly not worth answering again. But here goes – I had a complete Joker arc and character was scary and formidable. Harley had an arc – it was her movie. Diablo lived. Different ending. Enchantress / June had character arcs and made sense. Flag had a… https://t.co/TAg6Knpdzj— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) January 2, 2024
Fans around the world are way too excited for David Ayer’s version of Suicide Squad which is quite evident on social media as well.
David Ayer On How The Negative Reviews On Suicide Squad Broke Him Personally
Despite the financial success of Suicide Squad, the movie could not create an indelible mark critically. The critical bashing negatively affected David Ayer. During an appearance on Jon Bernthal’s Real Ones in 2023, the filmmaker was asked about the biggest heartbreak of his career. To which he replied-
“Hollywood, I tell people, is like watching someone you love get f—– by someone you hate. There’s a couple of [heartbreaks] — the big one is Suicide Squad. That s— broke me. That handed me my a–.”
On comparing the release of Deadpool and Batman v. Superman, he further explained-
“Deadpool opened, and then they never tested Batman v. Superman, so they put the movie out there and they never did a test. And they were expecting a different result, and then they got hammered by all the critics, and then it’s like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna turn David Ayer’s dark, soulful movie into a f—ing comedy now.'”
Ayer’s Cut has been in the talks for a very long time, but there has been no confirmation on the production of the project.
Suicide Squad (2016) is currently available on Max.
Frequently asked questions
What does David Ayer say about the 2016 Suicide Squad?
Ayer maintains that the released 2016 Suicide Squad was heavily altered from his vision and has pushed for his own director’s cut. He insists he made a drama, not a clown show, and that he made a great movie, expressing lasting frustration that his darker, more soulful version never reached audiences in theaters.
How did Suicide Squad perform despite the reviews?
The film was a commercial success, earning about 746.8 million dollars worldwide against a 175 million dollar budget, even though critics responded harshly. That gap between box-office returns and critical reception is central to Ayer’s argument that a very different, better-received film existed in his original edit of the project.
How does Ayer’s cut differ from the theatrical version?
Ayer says the differences go well beyond an extra scene or two. His version reportedly featured a fuller Joker arc, a Harley Quinn storyline at the center, different arcs for Enchantress and June, more development for Flag, an alternate ending, and Diablo surviving, before studio recutting reshaped the film after negative test screenings.
