David Ayer is pushing back on social media trolls after he expressed support for James Gunn‘s Superman and the DC Universe he is creating.
Days before Gunn dropped the Superman trailer, Ayer had taken to social media to talk to his followers who have been organizing a campaign to release his cut of 2016’s Suicide Squad.
However, in solidarity with Gunn and the rollout of his DC projects like Creature Commandos and Superman, he asked fans to hold off on the campaign.
“I didn’t realize James was dropping Creature Commandos when the last Ayer cut campaign hit,” Ayer posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on December 17. “The new Superman trailer is dropping soon and I know there’s intentions of another campaign for my version of Skwad.”
He continued, “As a film makers I want to support other film makers. I’m excited to see the trailer and have heard through the rumor mill it’s pretty incredible.”
Ayer suggested his fans to “star far clear of Thursday for any campaigning,” to not overshadow the Superman trailer release.
“I appreciate everyone hearing me out. At the end of the day I’m riding a tiger here. Just going in heard on this,” he said.
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On December 18, Ayer returned to X to address the backlash for supporting Gunn’s DC Universe.
“My Lord. If supporting another film maker is so contentious, I’m just lost at this point,” he posted. “When I was a kid I had a nightmare childhood. My best friends were comic books. They held me and gave me company when no one else did.”
He continued, “Batman spoke to my injured soul. Superman’s optimism was an example how to see the world without darkness.”
Ayer doubled down on supporting Gunn and his new film, saying, “I cannot fucking wait to see Jame’s trailer. Real talk. And I cannot wait to see his film. And absolutely am sure he crushed it. Because that simple optimism of Superman is all over it. And the little kid in me needs that right now.”
“I’m a bad guy for that? So be it,” he added. “I do troll what I can control. And can’t what I can’t. Gonna step back from all this for a moment.”
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Ayer mentioned he was taking a “step back” but didn’t mention if it was social media or the industry in general. Deadline has reached out to Ayer for clarification.
In 2023, Ayer said he had a conversation with DC Studios co-head James Gunn about releasing a cut of 2016’s Suicide Squad.
“All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release,” Ayer shared on X in August 2023. “The interest in my cut being show[n] seems real and organic. And Gunn told me it would have it’s [sic] 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.”
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In an interview with Total Film from December 2023, Ayer reiterated that his cut was coming, saying, “It’s coming. Something’s going to happen. Something’s going to be revealed. The truth always comes out. It always comes out.”
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