David ayer quits DC, kills 'suicide squad' director's cut dream

David Ayer, the director of the 2016 "Suicide Squad," has announced that he is officially stepping down from his efforts to push for the release of his version of the movie, the 'Ayer Cut'. Despite the campaign gaining traction after the successful release of Zack Snyder's extended version of "Justice League" in 2021, Ayer has stated that he is "done with DC" and that the studio has no interest in his cut of the movie. The DC Extended Universe is transitioning into a new phase under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, moving away from the DCEU to the new DCU which is set to begin with a TV show "Creature Commandos" in 2024, followed by the film "Superman: Legacy" in 2025. Ayer has mentioned the lack of support from the studio for the release of his 'Ayer Cut' and expressed the need to protect his heart moving forward. This decision comes as the new DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn is guiding the DCU in a different direction, and the 2016 "Suicide Squad" remains one of the DCEU's least favorable entries, prompting a reboot in 2021 with Gunn's own "The Suicide Squad."

No, David Ayer has confirmed he is no longer pursuing the release of his version of "Suicide Squad", citing the studio's disinterest and his decision to move on from the campaign.

"Suicide Squad" (2016) was envisioned as a major release for the burgeoning DC Extended Universe. It gathered a group of iconic villains from the DC Comics lore, intending to showcase a darker alternative to the more upbeat superhero teams seen in cinema. Unfortunately, upon its release, the film was met with significant criticism regarding its plot, pacing, and character development. This led to significant fan interest in an 'Ayer Cut', which promised a film more true to the director's original vision, especially after the release of "Zack Snyder's Justice League," which demonstrated the potential for director cuts to amend the reception of poorly received films. However, with Ayer stepping away from his campaign, it appears that fans will not get to see the 'Ayer Cut' materialize, closing a chapter on one of the DCEU's most contentious entries.