The December 2023 release of “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” served as the final flick in the DCEU. Now, all eyes are on the James Gunn-directed “Superman: Legacy,” which is set to formally launch an interconnected universe in 2025. With the so-called “Snyderverse” over, it seems like fans can now (bitterly) say goodbye to the prospect of a director’s cut of “Suicide Squad.” The film’s theatrical cut emerged as a box office success, grossing over $745 million worldwide in 2016, when the momentum for the DC franchise was at an all-time high. Despite stellar box office receipts, the movie was maligned by critics and fans alike, with significant criticism hurled at the film’s choppy editing, loose narrative, and over-indulgent use of pop songs.
Since that version’s release, Ayer has publicly discussed how his iteration was drastically different. Some notable differences include more of Jared Leto’s Joker and a radically different tone, which was less reliant on comedy. A 2016 report from The Hollywood Reporter, released days before the film’s release, revealed that Warner Bros. had several competing cuts of “Suicide Squad,” taking the final cut privilege away from Ayer.
Because of the response that “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” received, Warner Bros. was insistent that “Suicide Squad” feature a lighter, more crowd-pleasing tone that ultimately didn’t work out. The studio event went ahead and commissioned a cut of the film edited by Trailer Park, the folks who edited the film’s trailer.
