David Ayer offers more insight into filming SUICIDE SQUAD and reducing the Joker ‘to a punchline’

Director David Ayer keeps getting asked by fans about his Suicide squad film and his experience making it, and he’s happy to respond and offer more insight into the production and how it changed while he was working on it.

In a recent response to fans on X, Ayer shared a behind-the-scenes clip Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, highlighting how amazing the film was to make. Ayer was then asked if the film’s shooting had changed By Jared Leto Joker. Ayer responded, saying:

“Every single method was used to reduce the Joker to a punchline instead of the Clown Prince of Crime. The king of Gotham’s underworld that he is. Let’s put it this way. If you re-edit an actor’s performance with the aim of destroying him, it’s not that difficult.

Ayer also asked about the film shoot and if he was involved, or if someone else came to shoot it. regarding what was said:

“I shot him. I was hired to do a job and I did it. And if I were in the same situation, I would shoot what I had to shoot. At the end of the day I’m just an employee doing a job. I take my obligations seriously, no matter how painful they are.

Speaking previously about the original intent of the Joker, Ayer said: “This is what happens when you tear apart a performance and a character arc. I’m sorry that’s all you were allowed to see. Now your mind is closed to the truth.”

Ayer has already talked about his original version of the film and how it is so much better than the version that the studio butchered and released theatrically. One thing she said was that the original version of the film was “torn to pieces” and some of Jared Leto’s “terrifying” scenes as Joker were cut from the film.

Speaking about the film, Ayer said: “My cut would be easy to complete. It would be incredibly cathartic for me. It’s exhausting getting your ass kicked for a movie that got the Edward Scissorhands treatment. The film I made has never been seen.”

The original version of the film included “a lot more Joker, including a big fight with him in the subway.” It was also explained that the beginning of the film was “not edited like a music video, as all the flashbacks occurred in chronological order.” One of the most notable aspects of its original cut was that there was “a very different and clear tone to the relationship between Joker and Harley, which actually fits the opening of Birds of Prey better.”

Another fan then came up and asked about Joker’s face tattoos, and this is where Ayer admits he regrets that decision. He said: “It was Joker trolling Batman after getting his teeth kicked in by him. It’s the one aesthetic choice I wish I hadn’t made. Obviously I took a lot of smoke for this.

Ayer seems pretty confident that one day his share will be taken away Suicide squad will see the light, it would be fantastic!