I’m confused about this whole Ayer Cut thing.
For those who don’t know, David Ayer directed in 2016 Suicide squad … or, originally staged for Warner Bros. (in response to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice “Lukewarm” box office) decided to revise the film as a comedy, ala Guardian of the Galaxy.
So, instead of the dark villain ensemble that was teased in the original Comic-Con trailer:
We have a more extravagant, more colorful remix of jokes, gags and more jokes that was in line with the studio’s desire to match Marvel’s lighter tone.
Suicide squad premiered on August 5, 2016 with mediocre reviews, but still managed to make $ 746 million worldwide. The general consensus among fans was that the film was subpar, but the characters, particularly Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot, were actually pretty great.
Almost as soon as the film hit theaters, fans began to speculate that there was an alternate cut that was closer to the Comic-Con trailer when it had an alternate ending that had stronger ties to Zack Snyder’s original cut Justice League, and more of Jared Leto’s oddly underused Joker.
Of course, Ayer and Leto fueled the flames by releasing details on alternative scenes, different shots, cut sequences and newly mixed storylines.
Cue the Snyder cut
In one of the most entertaining pop culture phenomena of the past decade, Zack Snyder fans gathered to show their support for the director’s original version Justice League. Several years, a long pandemic, and another $ 75 million later, WB released Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max, and … the crowd went wild. Critics liked (mostly) Snyder’s 4+ hour spectacle (71% on RT), while fan reactions were (mostly) positive (94% audience rating, based on 25,000+ reviews).
Of course everything ZSJLs Success was the fuel fan’s wish to see Ayer’s cut Suicide squad, of which the director emphasizes that it is far superior to the theatrical release. No, really, the man made a very passionate statement about the project this week (just before James Gunns The suicide squad meets theater) in which he said:
“I’ve created something amazing. My editing is a complicated and emotional journey with some bad people getting shit and thrown away (a theme that resonates in my soul). The studio editing is not my film. Read that again. And my cut isn’t the 10 week director’s cut – it’s a fully fledged Lee Smith cut that is based on the incredible work of John Gilroy. It’s all Steven Price’s brilliant score without a single radio song in total. It has traditional character arcs, amazing performances, and a solid act third resolution. A handful of people saw it. ”
Fascinating.
RELATED: David Ayer Discusses Ayer’s Cut of Suicide Squad, Congratulates James Gunn
At this point I am assuming it Zack Snyder’s Justice League What a success. WB never released the official streaming data, but the film topped everything from Apple to the Official Film Charts, where it had “double the sales of its closest competition” according to OfficialCharts. Since Snyders Army of the Dead Also made big waves at Netflix, it can be assumed that audiences were at least open to seeing more of the director’s patented dark and brooding style.
So where is the Ayer Cut?
After the success of ZSJL, one would assume that those in power would want more of this pudding. Instead, despite its very lucrative opportunities (and built-in fan base), those in charge are pretty much against anything to do with the Snyderverse, particularly at HBO Max, where the series could continue without negating WB’s upcoming DC theater panel.
In other words, this is a perfect time for a multiverse. However, let’s just assume that WB has absolutely no interest in continuing Snyder’s vision. Fair enough. So why not publish the Ayer Cut?
Look, an alternate version of Suicide squad doesn’t change anything about Gunns The suicide squad. If anything, you’d think the additional PhD would help generate more interest in Gunn’s sequel. In case Ayer’s version sucks, that makes Gunn’s flick a lot better; and in the event that Ayer’s version gets the same critical response as the Snyder Cut, you’d imagine fans would be more inclined to see the sequel, right?
Given the sluggish summer box office – where films like Black widow and M. Night Shyamalans Old led to meager ticket sales – it’s obvious that audiences aren’t just flocking to the theaters, which means billions of eyeballs are looking for new content on home streaming platforms.
So tell me again why the Ayer Cut is a bad idea? Does WB fear that a negative reaction could dampen enthusiasm for Gunn’s film? Are you worried that a positive reaction might steal Gunn’s thunder? Are you afraid that the contrasting tones of each film would lead to a divisive reaction from the audience? Just wait for a later appointment far away from The suicide squad Release on August 6th?
There’s this strange notion that too much content makes fans tired or, worse, confused – there can only be a Batman, a Superman, a Wonder Woman, a Green Lantern, etc. That’s BS, I say, the more Batmen, the happier. Let Robert Pattinson do his thing. Let Ben Affleck do his thing. Let the upcoming cartoon series do its thing. Audiences love superheroes and would likely welcome alternative shots (streamed on a completely different platform) of their favorite heroes / villains with open arms.
More Suicide squad is a good thing
So, yes, count me on this latest fan outcry. Hell, I’ll be supporting the movement, if only to respect a director’s ultimate vision. But in all honesty, what’s the worst that can happen? Let’s say it sucks … okay. People will still see. Michael Bays 6 subway wasn’t good and was still watched by 83 million households on Netflix for the first four weeks.
Best case scenario? People love the Ayer Cut. They keep watching it, resulting in huge numbers for HBO Max, happy fans, and more subscribers, which justifies the additional $ 20-30 million it takes Ayer to achieve his vision. Since when has double-dipping been a bad word on the Hollywood machine?
Perhaps I am oversimplifying the complexity of the situation and neglecting important details, but there is no point in gathering dust on a shelf with a potential blockbuster somewhere.
Come on WB, let go of the Ayer Cut. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
