David Ayer Says ‘Suicide Squad’ Broke Him: ‘Hollywood Is Like Watching Someone You Love Get F—ed by Someone You Hate’

David Ayer appeared on the latest episode of Jon Bernthals Real Ones podcast and cited Suicide Squad as his biggest heartbreak in Hollywood. The director has been vocal over the last several years about the 2016 theatrical cut of Suicide Squad not being his preferred version of the film. That cut was widely panned by critics, but Ayer has long maintained that the studio changed the films entire tone from his original concept.

Hollywood I tell people is like watching someone you love get fucked by someone you hate, Ayer said when asked about his biggest Hollywood heartbreak. The big one is Suicide Squad. That shit broke me. That handed me my ass.

Come right off Fury, right? I had the town in my hand couldve done anything, and I did do anything, Ayer continued. And [I] go on this journey with [Suicide Squad]. And the same thing authentic, truthful, lets do all the rehearsal, lets really get in each others souls. Lets create this amazing, collaborative thing, right? And then Deadpool opened, right? And they never tested Batman v. Superman, so they were expecting a different result, and then they got hammered by all the critics. Then its like, Okay, were going to turn David Ayers dark, soulful movie into a fucking comedy now.

Ayer continues to use social media to advocate for the release of his Suicide Squad directors cut, dubbed the Ayer Cut. In a recent post on X, the director informed his fans that new DC Studios boss James Gunn told him the Ayer Cut would have its time to be shared. Ayer provided no further information.

All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release, Ayer wrote. The interest in my cut being show seems real and organic. And Gunn told me it would have its time to be shared. He absolutely deserves to launch his DC universe without more drama about old projects. In a way Im chained to this thing. Im riding a tiger here and navigating this situation the best I can. Life is a very strange journey.

Despite its critical bashing, Ayers Suicide Squad was a box office hit with $747 million worldwide. The film starred Will Smith and introduced Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. James Gunn directed his own Suicide Squad movie in 2021.

@realonesjonbernthal David Ayer talks about his experience on Suicide Squad #jonbernthal #dceu #warnerbros #margotrobbie #willsmith

♬ original sound Real Ones Podcast