While “Suicide Squad” walked away the big winner at the box office this weekend, the Monday morning quarterbacking of the film actually started last week when reports emerged that Warner Bros. produced their own cut of the movie, and eventually came together with David Ayer to put together the version that’s now playing. Unlike “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice,” it doesn’t look like there will be any kind of director’s cut, with Ayer sticking by the released version, but Jared Leto has already claimed that lots of scenes were left on the editing room floor. Just how many?
“Were there any that didn’t get cut? I’m asking you, were there any that didn’t get cut? There were so many scenes that got cut from the movie, I couldn’t even start,” he told IGN. “If I die anytime soon, it’s probably likely that it’ll surface somewhere. That’s the good news about the death of an actor is all that stuff seems to come out.”
Elaborating on “Kermode And Mayo,” Leto says he gave Ayer lots to work with, likely leading to his performance being shaved down, while once again repeating that if he dies, maybe we’ll see what didn’t make the movie. The actor also expressed that perhaps “Suicide Squad” should’ve pushed the envelope a little more.
“I brought too much to the table in every scene, it was probably more about filtering all of the insanity. I wanted to give a lot of options, and I think there’s probably enough footage in this film for a Joker movie. If I were to die tomorrow, maybe the studio would roll something out. [There’s] a rated R or rated X performance in there somewhere,” he said.
“I always wish this film was rated R. I actually said that when we were starting it. It felt like, if a film was ever going to be rated R, it should be the one about the villains,” Leto added.
With the film undergoing significant reshoots this spring, and then facing what was likely an intense editing process as WB and Ayer tried to find common ground, the big question is, how was the film reshaped? Well, a list of scenes that were cut from the movie has emerged on Reddit (so, grain of salt and all that; via Collider) along with a description of the differences between the movie and official novelization (via Comic Book Movie). If these are even half true, it does suggest that Ayer’s film was darker initially, and softened up somewhere along the way.
Read on and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Rumored Scenes Cut From “Suicide Squad”
In early cuts, the movie’s opening detailed June Moone’s possession by Enchantress in real time. Reshoots reshuffled the scene to be later in the movie in flashback form in favor of a new opening centered on Deadshot.
Deadshot in the prison cell, watching the rain fall and thinking about his daughter.
El Diablo observing the flame of a lit match, before putting it out due to his vow to no longer use his powers.
El Diablo being escorted to a training center by being placed in a tube that fills with water to quel his flames, and then unceremoniously dropped onto the ground.
Early interviews mentioned Captain Boomerang’s racism and sexism, but the movie is light on examples of such behavior, which have apparently been deleted. Most of them were reportedly directed at Katana, to whom Boomerang is attracted to.
Early reports indicated more backstory for Killer Croc, revealing that he lived his entire life as a social outcast due to his physical deformities and has convinced himself that he is beautiful in his own way. Croc crossed paths with Batman while working as muscle-for-hire for numerous Gotham’s crime bosses, while secretly planning to take over one day. There were also scenes displaying his affinity for making sculptures out of discarded materials. Aside from jokes about Croc viewing himself as ‘beautiful,’ one of these were retained in the final cut.
Also deleted was a scene where he (Croc) becomes sick at the helicopter escort to Midway City, throws up half-digested pieces of goat, and then eats them again, disgusting the nearby Navy Seals.
Early cuts reportedly included a passing reference to Slipknot being a serial rapist, likely to further paint him as unsympathetic to the audience ahead of his own death.
More scenes of Rick Flag and June Moone’s romantic relationship, including him reading the files of the Suicide Squad recruits after Waller delivers them to him.
Another scene where Flag and Moone are out on a date.
Extended scene of Joker interrogating Captain Griggs, including the line, “I can’t wait to show you my toys,” which was in every trailer, but was removed from the movie.
Joker and his men escaping after shooting up a restaurant. Harley, who is already affiliated with the Joker, follows them on a motorcycle and intercepts their car. Joker bangs his head against the glass in frustration.
Joker and Harley then get into a fight, which ends with Harley pointing a gun at Joker’s head. Joker sweet-talks Harley into lowering the gun, charming her, then backhands her across the face. Afterwards he sweet-talks her again and they kiss.
Extended Ace Chemicals scene where Harley jumps into the chemicals. More bits of dialogue by the Joker.
Extended Batmobile chase scene with more interaction between Joker and Harley. One of the examples, presented in all the trailers, is the Joker punching the roof of his car.
Harley using her baseball bat as a mock gun to play shoot at invisible foes.
Extended scene of Joker breaking into the nanobomb manufacture facility to arrange for Harley’s neck-bomb to be disabled.
More interactions between Harley and Boomerang. Early cuts apparently included her really disliking him despite growing affectionate to all other members of the squad.
Extended bar scene with Harley taking everyone’s orders. Deadshot calls for a shot, Katana wants whiskey, Croc and Boomerang settle for beer, Harley asks Diablo wants and he prefers water which she jokes, is “a good idea.” The scene was featured in the trailers, but in the movie it cuts directly to Deadshot’s speech about them almost pulling the mission off.
Removed several scenes with the Joker to repaint his relationship with Harley as more loving rather than abusive.
Joker and Harley get into an argument after he rescues her in the hijacked helicopter. In early cuts he reportedly pushes her out to kill her, then the helicopter gets shot down. This was apparently reworked into the helicopter getting shot down first and Joker pushing her out to save her.
Joker returns during the final battle in the subway station, face half-burnt from the helicopter crash, which apparently leads to a brief altercation with the Suicide Squad. He calls for Harley to escape with him but she refuses for once in order to help her friends, and the Joker escapes after throwing a live grenade at the group to cover his own escape.
Differences Between The Film And Official Novelization
The story begins with June Moone investigating the caves. She’d being haunted by nightmares of a woman. She’s travelled half way around the world to search for something that potentially may not exist. She knows the name ‘Enchantress’. She is accompanied by two people, Manuel and Luis, mountain guides she has worked with for several years. She can also speak Spanish. The mountain guides refuse to go into the cave with her. It seems like June has been plagued by these dreams for a long time.
The story then goes to Arkham Asylum where it has been a peaceful night, until masked thugs descend from helicopters into the courtyard. They kill all the guards. The thugs are looking specifically for Harleen. “Doctor Quinzel. How nice of you to join us. You’re looking… good enough to eat. Figuratively speaking, of course. I’m strictly vegan. At least today”. The Joker then implies that the electroshock therapy is revenge for her doing it to him, and ‘scorching what few dead and faded memories I had into a sizzling knot…’. In the film Harley seems to not fear the Joker but in here she’s pleading for him to let her go. But then she starts to enjoy it, asking for more pain and pleasure.
Then we go to Deadshot who is out in town. He gives coupons to homeless men and then watches them scramble to get them. We get the scene with him preparing to shoot the guy.
Then we get the club scene which is largely unchanged.
A scene with Deadshot and his daughter that was in the movie, but also him arguing with his ex-wife, and then Batman.
Then the Joker and Harley in the car. We find out why the track is called ‘You can’t make my teeth hurt’ and the line ‘Hope you’ve got insurance’. The Joker doesn’t give a shit and laughs at the fact that he drives into Gotham river leaving Harley to die. Batman says ‘Joker took something important from me. It’s my turn’.
Then Harley in Belle Reve and Deadshot, being taken by Griggs.
The Ace Chemicals scene is extended. It’s implied the Joker makes her jump off as a joke, but then changes his mind similar to the film. He (Joker) manages to jump out of the helicopter. The helicopter crashes into a bank building. He laughs knowing that money is burning inside. ‘God, I love the smell of burning cash in the morning’. I haven’t read up to there yet but from a search it appears that he’s not in it after that which I find confusing. I’ll keep reading. The story has the same ending, though, with the Joker breaking Harley out.