“Delving into Regrets”: David Ayer Reflects on a Creative Decision in Suicide Squad
Filmmaking decisions cast their shadows long after the cameras have stopped rolling. David Ayer, the director of 2016's "Suicide Squad," is now turning his gaze back to one particular creative choice he regrets.
In the world of comic book-based movies, Jared Leto brought the enigmatic supervillain Joker to life, complete with a striking tattoo across his forehead that read "damaged." It's interesting to note that this concept was originally proposed by none other than Ayer himself.
Ayer recently took to X, the rebranded social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to address the matter head-on. He openly claimed ownership of the tattoo concept, asserting, "I own the tattoo idea 100%. It was my choice." However, he divulged that the initial idea had a different flavor entirely: "Original idea is it would say ‘Blessed’ and not ‘Damaged.'"
Yet, as creativity often reveals, hindsight can uncover alternative perspectives. Ayer candidly expressed his regret about the decision and its divisive impact on fans. "Now having said that—I regret that decision. It created acrimony and division. Not every idea is a good idea," he admitted, laced with a touch of self-deprecating humor. "And I’ll just be in the corner here while the internet slaps me around for this post."
In recent times, Ayer has also hinted at the possibility of unveiling his own cut of the film, offering a fresh lens through which characters like Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, Will Smith's Deadshot, and Viola Davis' Amanda Waller could be reexamined.
Ayer's musings on X were intriguing, as he noted, "There’s a genuine curiosity and interest from a lot of people. And I’m aware of there is another group of people that have fun mocking the film. Your comment is a perfect example of how many are magnetically drawn to discussing the 2016 film in a negative way. Have you ever had an experience in life that didn’t unfold the way you wanted, that dragged you, that made you rethink everything? I have."
Ayer's creative journey has been anything but straightforward, as he navigates the intricate labyrinth of film creation. "All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release," he asserted. Amid the whispers of his unreleased version, Ayer remains hopeful, buoyed by James Gunn's supportive words: "The interest in my cut being shown 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, I’m chained to this thing. I’m riding a tiger here and navigating this situation the best I can. Life is a very strange journey."