After years of evangelizing about merits of his own, unreleased cut of 2016's Suicide Squad, director David Ayer really wants fans to calm down with their requests to actually see the thing.
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“I absolutely can’t wait to see Gunn’s Superman,” Ayer began a post on X today in reference to the DC Studios co-CEO’s upcoming Superman: Legacy project. “I have to say this. Gunn is the bravest man in Hollywood these days. He’s taking charge of the hardest ship to Captain in this industry. We make movies. We are entertainers. Not elected officials leading a nation. Everyone please chill.”
While Ayer may think Gunn is brave, the courage it takes to make a statement like this and take on a stan army—even your own—in 2023 cannot be ignored. Case in point, this whole thing started with a fan attacking Ayer’s judgment, ostensibly out of frustration with not being able to see Ayer’s movie in the first place. “[Ayer] is never going to see his cut released while Gunn is there. He really fell for Gunn’s lie. should’ve stood by those that defended him and had asked for his cut to be part of the conversation to begin with,” the fan wrote, prompting Ayer’s response.
While 2016's much-maligned Suicide Squad did have Ayer’s name attached, the director has long maintained that the studio cut is unrecognizable from his original, superior version of the film. Then, in 2021, Gunn’s stab at the franchise that fared far better with critics and naturally invited even more unfavorable attention for Ayer’s version. Still, at least to hear Ayer tell it, there’s never been any real animosity between the two men. As the above fan was referencing, Ayer posted earlier this summer that Gunn promised Ayer’s cut “would have it’s [sic] time to be shared.” “He absolutely deserves to launch to launch [sic] his DC universe without more drama about old projects,” Ayer continued.
Ayer’s respect goes back even further than that. In 2021, Ayer responded to Gunn’s film, writing: “I’m so proud of James and excited for the success that’s coming. I support WB and am thrilled the franchise is getting the legs it needs... Every movie is a miracle. And Jame’s [sic] brilliant work will be the miracle of miracles.” At this point it’s unclear if fans will ever see the #AyerCut, but it seems like Ayer himself has at least taken his own advice and begun to make peace with that fact.