Could We Get Ayer's Suicide Squad Cut After All?
James Gunn, newly-minted co-head of DC Studios, has made clear that he is all about the future, focusing on moving forward over the coming years after several years of directional fluidity. But David Ayer, who directed 2016's Suicide Squad, hinted that there may be an exception.
Gunn and Peter Safran were recently announced as co-CEOs of DC Studios, leading all DC-related films and television shows under Warner Bros. Discovery. Their main objective is unifying content and mapping out a multi-year vision for the franchise. Since the failure of 2017's Justice League, DC Studios has shifted directions several times without a clear path.
Gunn responded via Twitter to several fan campaigns, including the release of Ayer's original cut to Suicide Squad. Ayer's final product was a victim of studio interference, with the production team apparently making a lot of changes to his original vision of the film.
As a director himself, Gunn knows what that's like, but as head of the company, he needed to respectfully shut that down in the interest of the studio's future. He said that he welcomed all comments and questions from fans, but insisted that DC Studios' focus is moving forward.
Ayer responded professionally, though he's made evident that he also wants his cut released. He took to Twitter to answer questions about his relationship with Gunn and the proposition of the "Ayer Cut."
A fan asked about the "bromance" between Ayer and Gunn – who have proven to have a good relationship – and whether fans should put an end to #ReleasetheAyerCut. Ayer responded that Gunn has always been respectful to him as a filmmaker and that "of course" he wants his cut to be seen. He also said there might be a chance at it – "it just won't be tomorrow."
The last time fans pushed for an original cut, they got it. #ReleasetheSnyderCut was trending for years before Zack Snyder's director's cut of Justice League was finally released to HBO Max in 2021.
It makes sense that Gunn refuses to hint toward the release of the Ayer Cut. DC Studios' past has been murky at best and it's sensible to focus on the next few years. On top of that, Gunn himself directed a part-sequel, part-reboot of Ayer's film: 2021's The Suicide Squad. There are no announcements for a follow-up to any Suicide Squad content, implying the team isn't part of Gunn's plans for the future.
The future of DC Studios means focusing on the shared universe and building up to another (more successful) Justice League film. Gunn and Safran don't want any distractions from that, including re-releases of poorly-rated past film. But given that Ayer seems confident in the prospect of the Ayer Cut's release, fans should keep their hopes up.