Suicide Squad Director Says James Gunn Confident ‘Ayer Cut’ Will Release Eventually

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Suicide Squad director David Ayer has indicated James Gunn is on board with releasing the ‘Ayer Cut’ at some point, though he is currently busy working on the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

Ayer reignited discussions about the director’s cut of the widely-panned Suicide Squad after posting an image of Jared Leto’s Joker from the 2016 film on X (formerly known as Twitter). The photo didn’t include a caption, prompting some fans to question why he shared it. Ayer responded by giving a “Ted talk” on the situation as it currently stands.

“What’s your advice on how to navigate this situation with grace? There’s a genuine curiosity and interest from a lot of people,” Ayer wrote. “And I’m aware of there [being] another group of people that have fun mocking the film. Your comment is a perfect example of how many are magnetically drawn [to] discussion to the 2016 film in a negative way. Have you ever had an experience in life that didn’t [turn out] the way you wanted, that dragged you, that made you rethink everything? I have.”

What’s your advice on how to navigate this situation with grace? There’s a genuine curiosity and interest from a lot of people. And I’m aware of there is another group of people that have fun mocking the film. Your comment is a perfect example of how many are magnetically drawn… https://t.co/QZTZGUInAS

— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) August 7, 2023

He added: “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 his DC universe without more drama about old projects. In a way I’m chained to this thing. I’m riding a tiger here and navigating this situation the best I can. Life is a very strange journey.”

Shortly after Gunn took the post as co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, the #ReleaseTheAyerCut hashtag gained momentum on social media. Gunn tempered expectations by telling fans the studio would initially focus on telling the “biggest story ever told” across multiple projects in the new DCU.

That hasn’t stopped Ayer from publicly speaking about the project now and again. Over the years, he has detailed some of the differences between his original cut of Suicide Squad and the one released in theaters, including its alternate main villain, stronger ties to Justice League, and more of Jared Leto’s Joker.

Whether or not the Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad ever gets released remains to be seen. After all, the DCU is getting a major overhaul under Gunn and Safran’s leadership. The pair are working on a decade-long plan involving various DC characters, with actors signing deals for movie and TV appearances.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.