Suicide Squad Director's Cut Is Not Happening, Reveals Warner Bros. Chief

By Aeron Mer Eclarinal Updated:
Suicide Squad logo, Suicide Squad team

The DCEU is currently in a stage of transformation, and it was made clear that the multiverse is the next big thing for the franchise. This is an important step since it gives fans a glimpse of what's to come while also living up to the promise of seeing more projects that are not required to connect to the main canon.

The arrival of films like The Batman and the upcoming Superman reboot from JJ Abrams are just two examples that the multiverse approach will be front and center in the coming years. On top of that, the successful debut of Zack Snyder's Justice League is also a clear indication that Warner Bros. is willing to take risks in terms of showcasing a project that was years in the making.

However, it seems that not every project will ever see the light of day, as evidenced by the latest confirmation from a WarnerMedia executive.

THE FUTURE OF DAVID AYER'S CUT OF SUICIDE SQUAD REVEALED

WarnerMedia CEO Ann Sarnoff recently spoke with Variety to discuss the DCEU's future, and one of the topics discussed was the possibility of seeing David Ayer's cut of Suicide Squad .

When asked if fans will ever get to see the director's much-talked-about version of the 2016 film, Sarnoff confirmed that they have no plans of developing said project:

“We won’t be developing David Ayer’s cut.”

Update : Suicide Squad director David Ayer responded to the report by tweeting, “Why?:”

AYER CUT NO MORE (FOR NOW)

At this stage, it's all but confirmed that David Ayer's version of 2016's Suicide Squad exists somewhere, with even the director admitting that his director's cut of the film has improved story beats like the portrayal of Jared Leto's Joker. Ayer has been candid about the fact that there was studio meddling involved during the creative process, thus dampening the final product that was released in theaters.

Based on this confirmation from WarnerMedia's Ann Sarnoff, it looks like Ayer's original vision will not be developed after all, despite the overwhelming support from fans and the cast of the film . As it is, this is an unfortunate development.

As it stands, the DCEU is currently leaning towards welcoming a brand-new version of Task Force X later this year in the form of James Gunn's The Suicide Squad . The film has been described as a semi-reboot/sequel to the original, and it seems that the continuity issues will be addressed during its hybrid debut on HBO Max and in theaters.

Still, the same comment was said to Zack Snyder's Justice League then , and with the right push, Warner Bros. could potentially reconsider letting Ayer finish his version of the 2016 film.

For now, the so-called Ayer Cut of Suicide Squad remains hidden. However, the never-say-never attitude in the entertainment industry could give a glimmer of hope if Warner Bros. decides to take a second look in the future.

- About The Author: Aeron Mer Eclarinal
Aeron is a news/features writer and Content Lead for The Direct who has been working for the site since March 2020. From writing about the inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to having an extended knowledge about DC TV's Arrowverse, Aeron's expertise has since expanded into the realm of reality TV, K-drama, animated, and live-action shows from Netflix,  Disney+, Prime Video, MGM+, Peacock, Paramount+, and Max. When he isn't writing and watching all things MCU, Aeron is heavily invested with the NBA (go Celtics!) and occasionally watches thrilling matches in the WWE.