Since Zack Snyder announced his cut ofJustice Leaguewill be released on HBO Max in 2021, DC fans have been calling on Warner Bros. to give director David Ayer the same chance to complete his original version ofSuicide Squad. Now, Jared Leto, who portrayed the Joker in Ayer’s film, has added his voice to the chorus of supporters hoping to see the ‘Ayer Cut’ ofSuicide Squadreleased.
Released in 2016, Ayer’sSuicide Squadperformed well at the box office but was widely regarded as a weak entry in the DC Extended Universe franchise by audiences and critics. Rumors suggesting studio interference played a part in the disjointed narrative were seemingly confirmed when Ayer stated that his cut ofSuicide Squadwas ripped apart by Warner Bros. in the editing room. More recently, Ayer specifically stated the theatrical cut ofSuicide Squadwasunfair to Leto’s portrayal of the Joker, which was widely panned by movigoers.
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While there currently no announced plans to release an Ayer Cut ofSuicide Squad, Leto will have a second chance to portray theJoker in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. However, Leto noted that he understands the complications filmmakers face when working on a big-budget studio project and expressed his support for Ayer being given another chance to fulfill his original vision forSuicide Squadduring an interview onVariety’sAward Circuit Podcast. “I would love for him to be able to work on that and make the film of his dreams. 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,” Leto said. “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 attempt to make it as good as you may in a short amount of time. So I get it, having another swing at things? I’m sure we all can use that.”
Following the mixed response toSuicide Squad, Warner Bros. ultimately decided to enlistGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise director James Gunn to write and helm a follow-up feature. While Gunn’sThe Suicide Squadwill feature a handful of characters from Ayer’s film, including Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flagg, several newcomers will be added to the roster for the filmmaker’s new take on the supervillain team. The film will be followed by a televisionspin-off for HBO Max centered on John Cena’s Peacemaker, a master of weapons who believes in bringing peace at any cost, regardless of how many people have to be killed in the process.
Snyder himself recently added his supportfor Ayer being given the opportunity to complete his version ofSuicide Squad. While theJustice Leaguedirector had not reached out to his contemporary at the time, he did note that he hopes to discuss the matter with him one day.
Meanwhile, Gunn’sThe Suicide Squadis currently slated to be one of 17 Warner Bros. films released onHBO Max day-and-date with U.S. theaters. However, the decision reportedly did not sit well with Gunn, who, like many, had not been given advanced notice of the studio’s plans.
