The David Ayer cut of Suicide Squad remains a topic of interest for many fans. Now, a new Suicide Squad clip featuring Jared Leto’s Joker and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn is likely to fuel the push for the much-desired director’s cut.
Ayer’s Suicide Squad was released in 2016 to financial success but a poor response from fans and critics, which eventually contributed to Warner Bros.’ decision to change course and enlist James Gunn to revamp the property with 2021’s The Suicide Squad. Since then, Ayer has made it clear that the theatrical cut of Suicide Squad does not represent his true vision for the film, but he recently stated that he would not address the matter further.
Now, a new clip from the Ayer cut of Suicide Squad offers fans an alternate version of the scene where Joker and Harley Quinn reunite on board a helicopter. In the theatrical cut, Joker arrives with a helicopter to rescue Harley Quinn from being forced to serve on Amanda Waller’s Task Force X. Once Harley Quinn makes her way on board the helicopter, she shares a passionate kiss with the Joker before a missile hits the rotorcraft and sends her back down to the rooftops. However, in this new version of the scene, Joker welcomes Harley Quinn back by saying, “We’re gonna talk,” in a menacing manner that leaves her visibly taken aback.
Although Ayer has stated that he would not address the difficulties he faced with Warner Bros. before Suicide Squad was released, he still provides fans with glimpse at his version of the film now and then. Many of the sneak peeks at the Ayer cut of Suicide Squad involve the Joker. In the past, Ayer and others have noted that Leto’s performance as the Joker was one of the elements that was changed the most for the theatrical cut of Suicide Squad, with much of his material left on the cutting room floor.
While it may seem like a lost cause, the campaign to get Warner Bros. to release the Ayer cut of Suicide Squad is likely emboldened by the debut of Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max. Much like what happened with Ayer, Snyder’s vision for Justice League was heavily retooled by Warner Bros., but fans pushed for Warner Bros. to eventually release his director’s cut for all to see.
Whether Suicide Squad will benefit from an equally successful fan campaign remains to be seen. Either way, DC and Warner Bros. have made it clear that they’re moving away from the Snyder-era plans, of which Ayer’s Suicide Squad was a part, so perhaps fans should start looking to the future instead of wondering what could have been.
Suicide Squad is now available on HBO Max.
Source: The Film Exiles/Twitter
