David Ayer, the director of 2016’s Suicide Squad, has found himself at the center of controversy again, but this time, it’s not about his infamous “Ayer Cut” of Suicide Squad. Instead, he’s responding to fan backlash for showing public support for James Gunn and the filmmaker’s upcoming Superman.
Days before Gunn unveiled the first trailer for Superman: Legacy, Ayer took to X to address his followers who have been campaigning for the release of his original cut of Suicide Squad.
In a supportive move, Ayer asked his supporters to hold off on their efforts temporarily, showing solidarity with Gunn and his rollout of the new DC Universe.
“I didn’t realize James was dropping Creature Commandos when the last Ayer Cut campaign hit. The new Superman trailer is dropping soon, and I know there’s intentions of another campaign for my version of Skwad.”
Ayer explained the importance of supporting fellow filmmakers and suggested fans avoid campaigning during the trailer’s release.
“As a filmmaker, I want to support other filmmakers. I’m excited to see the trailer and have heard through the rumor mill it’s pretty incredible.”
He concluded by thanking fans for understanding, saying: “At the end of the day, I’m riding a tiger here. Just going in hard on this.”
Despite Ayer’s request, some fans were quick to criticize him for standing with Gunn. Ayer responded to the backlash, expressing frustration over the situation.
“My Lord. If supporting another film maker is so contentious, I’m just lost at this point. When I was a kid I had a nightmare childhood. My best friends were comic books. They held me and gave me company when no one else did.”
He continued, “Batman spoke to my injured soul. Superman’s optimism was an example how to see the world without darkness.”
Ayer doubled down on his enthusiasm for Gunn’s work: “I cannot F–king wait to see James’s trailer. Real talk. And I cannot wait to see his film. … That simple optimism of Superman is all over it. And the little kid in me needs that right now.”
In a candid remark, Ayer addressed the criticism directly: “I’m a bad guy for that? So be it. I do troll what I can control. And can’t what I can’t. Gonna step back from all this for a moment.”
I imagine Ayer mentioning stepping back pertains to social media.
The renewed spotlight on Ayer comes amid ongoing discussions about his cut of Suicide Squad. Ayer previously revealed on X that he’d had a conversation with Gunn about releasing his version of the film, noting that Gunn supported the idea but wanted to focus on launching his DC Universe first.
“All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release. The interest in my cut being shown seems real and organic. And Gunn told me it would have its time to be shared.”
In December, Ayer reiterated his belief that his cut would eventually see the light of day. “It’s coming. Something’s going to happen. Something’s going to be revealed. The truth always comes out.”
Ayer’s long journey with the Suicide Squad saga is a fascinating one, and it’s built around fan fervor and studio politics. Yet, his support for Gunn and the new Superman project highlights his commitment to the broader world of filmmaking.
We’ll just have to wait and see how these intertwined all of this continues to unfold.