Suicide Squad Ayer Cut: Is David Ayer Getting His Cut Too?

Update: It seems #ReleaseTheAyerCut is trending again after director David Ayer shared a new unused and unseen clip of Jared Leto’s Joker from the original Ayer Cut of the Suicide Squad film.

“You should be ashamed of yourself” #ReleaseTheAyerCut pic.twitter.com/vWqSVTBHic

— -/George\- (@kryptonscodex) January 16, 2021

Then actor Joel Kinnaman also shared his thoughts on the original and intended version of the 2017 movie.

“You always wanna see the filmmaker’s cut, you know?” said Kinnaman. “It’s always a shame when the filmmaker’s vision doesn’t make it to the cinema. Of course, there’s always going to be compromise. I find it’s the bigger the budget, the bigger the compromise. Usually that’s the case.”

A few weeks prior, Joker actor Jared Leto revealed that he also fully supports an Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad should filmmaker David Ayer ever get the opportunity to see his original vision for the project realised.

“I would love for him to be able to work on that and make the film of his dreams,” said Leto. “It’s always hard when you make these movies because it’s such a pressure cooker. There are so many decisions that have to be made in a short amount of time. My hat’s off to the directors and the producers, and the studios. It’s not easy. You never start with something that’s perfect. It’s a race to try to make it as good as you can in a short amount of time. So I get it, having another swing at things? I’m sure we all can use that.”

Original Story: Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad real? And do we really want to see it?

Of course.

After years of campaigning, this week fans celebrated the news that Zack Snyder’s Snyder Cut, the director’s original version of Justice League, would finally be released on HBOMax in 2021.

Of course, it didn’t take long for fans to request that the streaming network consider David Ayer’s Suicide Squad too.

If rumours and subtle conversations on Twitter are to be believed, the Ayer Cut might also have a release date in the near future.

Over the last week, David Ayer has been retweeting and commenting on suggestions for the original cut of his Oscar-winning Suicide Squad film.

#ReleaseTheAyerCut I'm down! Go watch @GraceRandolph's latest #ZackSnydersJusticeLeague @hbomax YouTube video. This could potentially be an earth shattering DCEU… #ZackSnydersDCEU @ZackSnyder @DavidAyerMovies @RTAyerCutSS @RTSnyderCut https://t.co/lIZNpP9zyZ

— Jeffrey Roberson (@Jroberson32) May 22, 2020

According to various reports, the original film had a lot more Joker footage and included ties to Zack Snyder’s Justice League film. There was also a different plot for Enchantress that included the mother boxes and Apokoliptians. The entire story was meant to pave the way for Steppenwolf’s arrival on the planet.

Again, other rumours suggest that Zoic Studios has been hired to work and complete VFX on both Snyder and Ayer’s films for the Snyder Cut and an Ayer Cut for HBO Max.

If you’re still doubtful, this exchange between David Ayer and AT&T also hints at the possibility:

It’s an exciting time to be a DC fan. Just last month there seemed to be no hope that we would ever see the original and intended versions of these films. Someone at DC has clearly woken up to the idea of answering fan requests. This is a really good sign.

While we were never really keen on Jared Leto’s Joker, perhaps the actor can finally redeem himself with the extra/new footage from the Ayer Cut of the film.

According to a Reddit user named Naydawwwg, these are a few of the things that were cut from Suicide Squad‘s theatrical release and could return in the Ayer Cut of the film:

“In early cuts, the movie’s opening detailed June Moon’s possession by Enchantress in a real tome. Reshoots reshuffled the scene to be later in the movie in flashback form in favour of a new opening centred on Deadshot.”

“Deadshot in the prison cell, watching the rainfall and thinking about his daughter.”

“El Diablo observing the flame of a lit match, before putting it out due to his vow to no longer use his powers.”

“El Diablo being escorted to a training centre by being placed in a tube that fills with water to quell his flames, and then unceremoniously dropped onto the ground.”

“Early interviews showed Captain Boomerang’s racism and sexism, but the movie is light on examples of such behaviour, which have apparently been deleted. Most of them were reportedly directed at Katana, to whom Boomerang is attracted to.”

“Early reports indicated more backstory for Killer Croc, revealing that he entire life as a social outcast due to his physical appearance and has convinced himself that he is beautiful in his own way. Croc crossed paths with Batman while working as muscle-for-hire for numerous Gotham’s crime bosses, while secretly planning to take over one day. There were also scenes displaying his affinity for making sculptures out of discarded materials. Aside from jokes about Croc viewing himself as ‘beautiful,’ one of these were retained in the final cut.”

“Also deleted was a scene where he becomes sick at the helicopter escort to Midway City, throws up half-digested pieces of goat, and then eats them again, disgusting the nearby Navy Seals.”

“Early cuts reportedly included a passing reference to Slipknot being serial rapist, likely to further paint him as unsympathetic to the audience ahead of his own death.”

“More scenes of Rick Flag and June Moon’s romantic relationship, including him, reading the files of the Suicide Squad recruits after Waller delivers them to him.”

“Another scene where Flag and Moon are out on a date.”

“Extended scene of Joker interrogating Captain Griggs, including the line, “I can’t wait to show you my toys,” which was in every trailer, but was removed from the movie.”

“Joker and his men escaping after shooting up a restaurant. Harley, who is already affiliated with the Joker, follows them on a motorcycle and intercepts their car. Joker bangs his head against the glass in frustration.”

“Joker and Harley then get into a fight, which ends with Harley pointing a gun at Joker’s face. Joker sweet-talks Harley into lowering the gun, charming her, then backhands her across the face. Afterwards, he sweet-talks her again, and they kiss.”

“Extended Ace Chemicals scene where Harley jumps into the chemicals. More bits of dialogue from Joker.”

“Extended Batmobile chase scene with more interaction between Joker and Harley. One of the examples, presented in all the trailers, is the Joker punching the roof of his car.”

“Harley using her baseball bat as a mock gun to play shoot at invisible foes.”

“Extended scene of Joker breaking into the nano-bomb manufacture facility to arrange for Harley’s neck-bomb to be disabled.”

“More interactions between Harley and Boomerang. Early cuts apparently included her really disliking him despite growing affectionate to all the other members of the squad.”

“Extended bar scene with Harley taking everyone’s orders. Deadshot calls for a shot, Katana wants whiskey, Croc and Boomerang settle for beer, Harley asks Diablo wants, and he prefers water which she jokes, “is a good idea.” The scene was featured in the trailers, but in the movie it cuts directly to Deadshot’s speech about them all almost pulling the mission off.”

“Removed several scenes with the Joker to repaint his relationship with Harley as more loving rather than abusive.”

“Joker and Harley get into an argument after he rescues her in the hijacked helicopter. In early cuts he reportedly pushes her out to kill her, then the helicopter gets shot down. This was apparently reworked into the helicopter getting shot down first and Joker pushing her out to save her.”

“Joker returns during the final battle in the subway station, face half-burnt from the helicopter crash, which apparently leads to a brief altercation with the Squad. He calls for Harley to escape with him but she refuses for once in order to help her friends, and the Joker escapes after throwing a live grenade at the group to cover his own escape.”