David Ayer says Jared Leto’s Joker is completely different in his cut of 2016’s Suicide Squad compared to the studio version.
On Twitter, Ayer was asked about the “most notable difference” regarding Jared Leto’s Joker character in his cut of Suicide Squad versus the studio’s version of the movie.
Ayer answered, “Joker is formidable intense and a focus of nature in my cut. Not unfocused and silly. In my cut he has a story arc that hangs powerfully over the entire film. In the studio cut he’s a prop not a character.”
Ayer has been vocal about wanting DC Studios to release his original cut of Suicide Squad, as he’s spoken many times about the various changes that were made to the movie during its post-production. Similar to the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement surrounding 2017’s Justice League, some fans have started a #ReleaseTheAyerCut campaign in an attempt to get Warner Bros. to distribute Ayer’s original version.
David Ayer is optimistic fans will see his cut of Suicide Squad
Speaking with Total Film, Ayer recently said he was “going to be hopeful” that his version of Suicide Squad would someday make its way out into the public.
“You know, there are a lot of people that are invested in certain narratives that don’t want it to see the light of day,” he said.
Ayer continued, “So there’s an immense political headwind against it, because if that cut were made public, the cowardliness and the whole just general shittiness of how the film’s been treated, and how the actors have had this great work that they’d done taken away … That narrative blows up once people see the movie. But it’s coming. Something’s going to happen. Something’s going to be revealed. The truth always comes out. It always comes out.”
As for right now, Warner Bros. and DC Studios haven’t announced any formal plans to release Ayer’s cut of Suicide Squad; however, Ayer has also said he’s had conversations with James Gunn, who now oversees DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, regarding the matter.
The theatrical cut of Suicide Squad is currently streaming on Netflix and Max. Meanwhile, Ayer’s new Jason Statham-starring movie, The Beekeeper, releases in theaters on January 12, 2024.
