How 'Batman V Superman' and Studio Interference Ruined Suicide Squad
Suicide Squad's tortured production: 2 competing cuts, agents fired and rehired, studio high anxiety. https://t.co/HcG1mpKQPy
- Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) August 3, 2016
- The Hollywood Reporter has written an article about how Suicide Squad turned into the mess that the reviews are now showing it to be.
- The film was a mess to begin with. Ayer wrote the script in 4 weeks and Warner just rode with it, an insider arguing that 'had Ayer been given more time to work on a script, the final output would've had a better chance'. Warner refused to give him any sort of extension because the release date had been announced and advertising deals were cut.
- Warner/DC didn't trust David Ayer as a director either from the start. They wanted a competing vision and two cuts of the film. They set out with company Trailer Park, who cut the original teaser, to work on a second cut of the film to fit their vision.
- Warner/DC became more anxious with production when the BVS reviews came out and they were 'completely blindsided by the negative reaction'.
- Warner didn't like the cut they were seeing, more dark and serious in tone, when Warner wanted a funny, edgy film that was promised in the teaser.
- Ayer agreed to Warner's idea to screen two versions of the film. This happened in May and the Warner-Cut (which included more characters introduced early on and flashier scenes) won the blind-test which caused the reshoots and tens of millions in more spent.
- Ayer felt betrayed by his agent for him siding with Warner and dropped him and then rehired his old agent back all within 24 hours.
- Warner went behind Ayer's back and screened another new cut, which melded Warner's version and Ayer's version and the reaction was strong enough that this was the version they were releasing to theatres and Ayer was fine with.
- Seven editors were brought in to cut the film, but only John Gilroy is credited. Interestingly enough, John left the film halfway through and the final editor brought on was Michael Tronick.
- The film must make $800 Million, the same amount as Batman v Superman ended up making, in order to be considered a financial success for Warner/DC.
What a damn mess. Warner and DC really are fucking up their own money.