David Ayer Says Suicide Squad Reviews Shook His Confidence

David Ayer's polarizing status as a film director continues with Bright, the Netflix film starring Will Smith that imagines our world mixed with elves, orcs, and other fantastical elements. Before this movie came out, his film that got the most attention was Suicide Squad, the third DCEU film that managed to win over fans and turn off critics. It turns out those reviews got to Ayer, though he is trying to take the criticism constructively.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about Bright, he acknowledged that the DCEU film was very polarizing. "It was a super polarizing movie. Incredibly polarizing," Ayer said. Admitting that the film got "sh*t reviews," he admits that his confidence was a bit shaken after reading some of these reviews.

"It's like going to the boxing ring and getting knocked out is how it felt. And I had to go into the ring again. And directing is a confidence game, because you're selling everyone on something that only exists in your head. The actors have to feel that confidence to trust that you know what you're doing, and so does your crew. As a director, you set the tone. Really, it's coming off that movie, I understood the pitfalls, I understood the dangers, I knew where the alligators hide, you know? And so I made damn sure I didn't repeat any mistakes."

Though critics didn't take kindly to Suicide Squad or Bright, the director is looking forward to his next DCEU project. Ayer confirmed that he would be working on Gotham City Sirens, though no news about the film has come out since the announcement. While the director doesn't mention it directly, he admits to being a comic book fan and cannot wait to make another superhero IP.

Bright can be streamed now on Netflix.

Read:David Ayer Passive-AgressivelyReacts To A Negative Review For Bright