Those of us who were there in 2016 can probably remember the time whenSuicide Squadwas about to hit the big screen. The hype for writer/director David Ayer’sDC superhero filmabout bad guys having to save the world was everywhere and why wouldn’t it be? You had a star-studded cast playing fan-favorite characters. The anticipation was great, but when the movie finally came out, the reception was not. What went wrong?
Well, Ayer has maintained that the movie that was released was not his original vision. HisSuicide Squadmovie was supposed to have this somber tone. The released film contains several moments that seem like it’s trying to duplicate the success of the MCU’sGuardians of the Galaxy. Like what would happen withZack SnyderandJustice League, the clashing visions between the director and the studio resulted in a disjointed movie with an inconsistent tone.
Ayer recently opened up about that in an interview with Jon Bernthal in “Real Ones”:
“Come right offFury, right? I had the town in my hand — could’ve done anything, and I did do anything. And [I] go on this journey with [Suicide Squad]. And the same thing — authentic, truthful, let’s do all the rehearsal, let’s really get in each other’s souls. Let’s create this amazing, collaborative thing, right? And thenDeadpoolopened, right? And they never testedBatman v. Superman, so they were expecting a different result, and then they got hammered by all the critics. Then it’s like, ‘Okay, we’re going to turn David Ayer’s dark, soulful movie into a f*cking comedy now.’”
Ayer also told the host andPunisheractor thatSuicide Squadwas his biggest heartbreak in the film industry. “Hollywood — I tell people — is like watching someone you love get fcked by someone you hate. The big one isSuicide Squad. That sht broke me. That handed me my ass.” However, Ayer has not yet given up hope on audiences being able to see his version ofSuicide Squadand has recently gotten good news on that front.
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David Ayer’s Suicide Squad
In the years following the release ofSuicide Squad,Ayer has been trying to drum up support for the release of his cut, like withZack Snyder’s Justice League. Meanwhile,James Gunn, the writer/director ofGuardians of the Galaxy, came out with his movie about the comic team (with no hard feelings from Ayer) before being put in charge of rebooting the DC film universe. According to asocial media postfrom Ayer has been informed by Gunn thatDavid Ayer’s Suicide Squadwill have it’s time to shine eventually.
“All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release. The interest in my cut being show seems real and organic. And Gunn told me it would have it’s time to be shared. He absolutely deserves to launch to launch his DC universe without more drama about old projects.”
In the meantime, there is a way to gain a better sense of what Ayer’s version ofSuicide Squadwould have been like. While his version might not have been released, his original script has. you’re able to find it onScript Slug, a helpful website for most, but not all, of your script reading needs. It won’t be the same as watching the movie. You may be surprised by how often the best part of a film wasn’t in the original script. But again, it will give you a better understanding of Ayer’s vision.
