David Ayer talks Suicide Squad and what he’d do differently
In hindsight, everything is clearer – at least that’s a famous quote said. Looking back, everything always looks a little different and for writer/director David Ayer, that seems to be the case if a quite long reply on social media this weekend is anything to go by. Speaking about his summer blockbuster Suicide Squad, Ayer was quite candid in his response to a comment on the film and said that if he had the chance to do things over again, he may do them differently.
Savaged by many critics on its release last summer, the DC villain team-up was still a success at the box office as the film soared past $745.6million worldwide and has just about kept interest percolating in the DC/WB cinematic universe. Indeed many fans were not as enamoured with Squad as the studio would have hoped, and in his response on Twitter, Ayer address some of the issues in a very extended reply.
On the film, Ayer said:
“Thank you so much. I know it’s a controversial film, I really tried to make something different, with a look and a voice of its own,” Ayer told the fan who called the movie a “masterpiece
“I took inspiration from the insanity of the original comics. Making a movie is a journey, not a straight line. I learned so much. People want what they want, and everyone has a personal vision of how each character should look and walk and talk. If you set out to make a mass appeal movie, it’s easy to end up with vanilla. But I went for it. And I know Squad has its flaws, Hell, the World knows it. Nothing hurts more than to pick up a newspaper and see a couple years of your blood, sweat and tears ripped to shreds. The hate game is strong out there.
“The movie was wildly successful commercially. And the World got introduced into some very cool characters in the DC Universe. And that success is due exactly to the wonder and power of DC, of its characters. Would I do a lot of things different? Yep, for sure.
“Wish I had a time machine. I’d make Joker the main villain and engineer a more grounded story. I have to take the good and bad and learn from it. I love making movies and I love DC. I’m a High School dropout and used to paint houses for a living. I’m lucky to have the job I have. I have to give the characters the stories and plots they deserve next time. Real talk. (And no, there isn’t a secret edit of the film with a bunch of Joker scenes hidden in a salt mine somewhere.)”
It’s a very interesting response from the director and his comments (particularly his stance on The Joker) will no doubt be met with the same mix of reactions as the film itself – on the one hand, an extended appearance of Jared Leto’s clown in a more prominent role may have saved the film but given the mostly negative comments on his portrayal, it may not have been the best course of action.
Still, Ayer did something the studio liked as he is set to direct a Gotham City Sirens film, which will see Margot Robbie return as Harley Quinn alongside other female characters, potentially Catwoman and Poison ivy.
Suicide Squad is out on Blu-ray and DVD now.