David Ayer wants a “funeral” screening of his Suicide Squad cut

David Ayer wants a “funeral” screening of his Suicide Squad cut – The director wants to say goodbye to his dream in a monumental way. Will it be possible?

By Megan Sauer

Many DC fans viewed 2016 as one of the best years for the cinematic universe that Warner was developing.

But the dream fell apart when the products finally hit theaters and it was discovered that Suicide Squad was not what they expected.

David Ayer became persona non grata in the DC world and in 2024 it is still possible to find haters who repudiate his work.

Despite the above, the director has made peace in the war and has already said goodbye to his court, however, he hopes to be able to make one last screening of his special court as a farewell and funeral.

Suicide Squad follows a group of convicted criminals who are recruited by the government to carry out dangerous missions in exchange for reduced sentences.

Led by Agent Amanda Waller, this motley group, known as the Suicide Squad, includes iconic characters such as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Killer Croc.

The film takes place in a chaotic and dark context, where the members of the squad must face supernatural threats and their own turbulent past as they fight to survive and redeem themselves in a mission that can have deadly consequences.

The film mixes intense action, black humor and dynamic anti-heroic characters in a desperate attempt to fulfill its mission.

For Variety, David Ayer talks once again about Suicide Squad and his dreams:

“That has been the most difficult part of my career. I made a great movie. I made an incredible movie. I will leave it on record. Anyone wants to argue that: come look me in the eyes.

For something I put so much love and heart into to be taken away, redesigned. […] Every time a new movie comes out in that space it restarts.

They attack me for something I didn’t do. It’s pretty unfair and at the end of the day, I get it by now, it’s corporate America. It’s corporate intellectual property. You know these are multi-billion dollar companies, but I think ripping out the guts of a filmmaker like him is pretty unfair.

I would love to see a screening as a “final rite.” A funeral screening, you know, even just getting the cast and crew together to show them what they really did. That would be fair for everyone.”

A very bitter pill

Recall that Suicide Squad was received with mixed reviews and faced significant challenges upon its release.

Despite having a talented cast and iconic characters from the DC Comics universe, the film was criticized for its messy plot and lack of narrative cohesion. Editing problems and the perception that the film failed to realize the full potential of its intriguing characters contributed to discontent among critics and audiences alike.

Additionally, the film’s dark and somber tone failed to effectively connect with audiences, especially considering the expectations created by promotional trailers that suggested a lighter, more humorous tone.

Criticism was also directed towards the portrayal of certain characters and the overall execution of the story.

Although some elements, such as Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn, were notable, structural problems and critical response contributed to the film being considered a failure compared to initial expectations.

DC’s stumble on the big screen has been attributed in part to a lack of coherence and unified vision in its cinematic universe.

Unlike the carefully planned approach of Marvel Studios, which built its success through the interconnection of stories and characters, DC films have been characterized by abrupt changes in tone and style, as well as the introduction of multiple timelines.

This fragmented approach has created confusion among viewers and has affected the construction of a solid and consistent narrative.

Additionally, the uneven critical reception of various DC films, along with the contrast in quality of the adaptations, has contributed to the challenge facing the DC cinematic universe.

Although there have been individual successes, such as Wonder Woman and Aquaman, the lack of clear direction and variability in the quality of the films have led to widespread negative perception, affecting public trust and the cohesion of the DC cinematic universe compared to the more consistent success of its rival, Marvel.

James Gunn has the future of the saga in his hands now that he is president of DC Studios, can he make it count?