Suicide Squad director David Ayer says "terrifying" Joker scenes with "incredible acting" were cut

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Suicide Squad was reshot because the tone was “too dark," the director added

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(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Suicide Squad director David Ayer has once again taken to social media to open up about his DC movie and the alleged cuts made to it. This time, the filmmaker has revealed why Suicide Squad was supposedly changed and offered some information on the “terrifying” scenes involving Jared Leto’s Joker.

“This was reshot because the tone was ‘too dark,’” Ayer said on Twitter. “My first act was a normally constructed film. I took my inspiration from [Christopher] Nolan. There were real scenes with incredible acting between Jared and [Harley Quinn actor] Margot [Robbie]. Joker was terrifying. Harley was complex.”

Expanding further, he revealed that the change in tone from trailers to the lighter, more joke-filled finished product was a result of both the critical whiplash to Batman v Superman, as well as the success of the R-Rated Deadpool over at Fox.

“[The first Suicide Squad trailer] nailed the tone and intention of the film I made. Methodical. Layered. Complex, beautiful and sad. After the BVS reviews shell shocked the leadership at the time, and the success of Deadpool - My soulful drama was beaten into a ‘comedy,’” Ayer explained.

For his part, Ayer holds no ill will against Warner Bros. – at least in its current state. He later said on Twitter, “This was just a moment in the past - Those involved have moved on. The studio is in a great place today and encouraging filmmakers to make their vision.”

After the successful Justice League Snyder Cut movement led to the announcement of a re-release coming to HBO Max in 2021, recuts are suddenly all the rage. Ayer previously said his cut would be “easy” to complete, while some fans in a galaxy far, far away have even petitioned for a four-hour Revenge of the Sith extended edition.

Is it time to #ReleaseTheAyerCut? For now, no news on it becoming a reality – though Ayer isn’t holding back on his treatment of the film that eventually became Suicide Squad.

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.