David Ayer Says Harley Quinn’s ‘Suicide Squad’ Story Was ‘Eviscerated’ For Political Reasons

Geoff Johns David Ayer The Suicide Squad Margot Robbie Harley Quinn John Cena James Gunn David Ayer

Director David Ayer revealed that Harley Quinn’s Suicide Squad story was “eviscerated” for political reasons.

David Ayer’s Suicide Squad has been the butt of jokes from comic book movie fans. The 2016 DC Comics film notoriously received middling reception from both fans and critics despite making a killing at the box office. Criticism for the Ayer-directed film particularly focused on its plot and CGI-heavy third act. While Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn was a stand-out character (as well as the only Suicide Squad member to get her own movie), fans came out in droves to comment how the character was hyper-sexualized.

In a recent tweet, Ayer discussed how Harley Quinn’s Suicide Squad arc was “eviscerated” for political reasons in response to a tweet that suggested Robbie’s character was merely rendered as eye candy.

While it’s hard to comment on the politics the director is speaking of, the film did receive some unfair, vitriolic reception from fans at the time of its release. Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn certainly was the stand-out Suicide Squad (once again highlighted by her role in Birds of Prey) and was pretty much the main character of the film. It’s no secret that David Ayer’s vision for Suicide Squad was hijacked and tweaked by Warner Bros. and the director hasn’t done a good job of hiding his animosity. Regardless, Ayer has stood by the final product and has always remained remain civil with fans.

What are your thoughts on David Ayer’s comments regarding Harley Quinn’s characterization? Comment below and let us know!

Here is the official synopsis for David Ayer’s film:

It feels good to be bad…Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity.

U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?

Written and directed by David Ayer, Suicide Squad stars Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, and Cara Delevingne.

Suicide Squad is now available on Digital HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD.

Source: David Ayer