Suicide Squad Director Acknowledges Key Mistake in Jared Leto’s Joker Portrayal
When it comes to the world of comic books, the 2016 DC Studios film “Suicide Squad” doesn’t exactly have the warmest place in the hearts of fans. Directed by David Ayer, the movie starred an ensemble cast including Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, and Cara Delevigne. However, it received a barrage of negative reviews upon release.
One particular aspect that drew heavy criticism was Jared Leto’s portrayal of the iconic Joker, one of the most notorious comic book villains of all time. The scrutiny wasn’t solely focused on Leto’s performance; rather, it centered on his appearance and the creative choices made for the character. Notably, the introduction of numerous tattoos, including one prominently displayed on his forehead that read ‘DAMAGED,’ raised eyebrows.
While Joker has always been depicted as a psychopath in various iterations, his character has typically been marked by its complexity and depth. This cinematic interpretation, however, seemed to veer from the nuanced depiction that fans had come to expect.
Taking responsibility for this misstep, David Ayer candidly confessed his regret over the tattoo concept. In a tweet, he owned up to the decision, revealing, “I own the tattoo idea 100%. It was my choice. The original idea is it would say ‘Blessed’ and not ‘Damaged.’ Now having said that — I regret that decision. It created acrimony and division. Not every idea is a good idea. And I’ll just be in the corner here while the internet slaps me around for this post!”
A Glimmer of Hope: Ayer’s Suicide Squad Director’s Cut
In the wake of the underwhelming reception that the theatrical version of “Suicide Squad” faced, David Ayer provided a glimmer of hope to fans. He assured them that the version that made it to theaters wasn’t reflective of his original vision and that a significantly improved director’s cut was in existence, potentially awaiting its moment in the spotlight.
Amidst discussions on social media, Ayer expressed, “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 discussion to of the 2016 film in a negative way. Have you ever had an experience in life that didn’t until the way you wanted, that dragged you, that made you rethink everything? I have.”
Drawing a contrast between his unreleased cut and the studio-released version, Ayer stated, “All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release. The interest in my cut being shown seems real and organic. And Gunn told me it would have its time to be shared. He 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.”
