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David Ayer

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0001470
David Ayer at an event for Bright (2017)
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?
Play trailer2:25
Suicide Squad (2016)
3 Videos
32 Photos
David Ayer is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. David Ayer was born in Champaign, Illinois and grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Bethesda, Maryland, where he was kicked out of his house by his parents as a teenager. Ayer then lived with his cousin in Los Angeles, California, where his experiences in South Central Los Angeles became the inspiration for many of his films. Ayer then enlisted in the United States Navy as a submariner.
BornJanuary 18, 1968
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 18, 1968
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,0001470
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations total

    Photos32

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    + 26
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    Known for

    Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña in End of Watch (2012)
    End of Watch
    7.6
    • Producer(produced by)
    • 2012
    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Williams, and Sam Worthington in Sabotage (2014)
    Sabotage
    5.7
    • Producer
    • 2014
    Will Smith, Jared Leto, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Viola Davis, Jay Hernandez, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, and Karen Fukuhara in Suicide Squad (2016)
    Suicide Squad
    5.9
    • Writer
    • 2016
    Jason Statham in A Working Man (2025)
    A Working Man
    5.7
    • Producer(produced by)
    • 2025

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • Cointelpro
      • executive producer
      • In Development
    • North Hollywood
      • producer
      • Pre-production
    • Heart of the Beast
      • producer
      • In Production
    • Dirty Dozen
      • executive producer
      • Pre-production



    • Jason Statham in A Working Man (2025)
      A Working Man
      5.7
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2025
    • Vivica A. Fox, Thomas Jane, Theo Rossi, Tyrese Gibson, Nikki Blonsky, and Aubrey Joseph in Bosco (2024)
      Bosco
      5.5
      • executive producer
      • 2024
    • Jason Statham in The Beekeeper (2024)
      The Beekeeper
      6.3
      • producer
      • 2024
    • Shia LaBeouf, Jose Conejo Martin, Bobby Soto, and Cheyenne Rae Hernandez in The Tax Collector (2020)
      The Tax Collector
      4.9
      • producer (produced by, p.g.a.)
      • 2020
    • Deputy (2020)
      Deputy
      6.5
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollett, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie, and Ella Jay Basco in Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
      Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
      6.1
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Ready for War (2019)
      Ready for War
      5.7
      • executive producer
      • 2019
    • Will Smith and Joel Edgerton in Bright (2017)
      Bright
      6.3
      • producer
      • 2017
    • Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal in Fury (2014)
      Fury
      7.6
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2014
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Williams, and Sam Worthington in Sabotage (2014)
      Sabotage
      5.7
      • producer
      • 2014
    • Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña in End of Watch (2012)
      End of Watch
      7.6
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2012
    • Christian Bale in Harsh Times (2005)
      Harsh Times
      6.8
      • producer
      • 2005
    • Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
      Training Day
      7.8
      • co-producer
      • 2001

    Writer



    • The Wild Bunch
      • earlier script
      • In Development
    • Commando
      • Writer
      • Pre-production
    • Dirty Dozen
      • Writer
      • Pre-production



    • Jason Statham in A Working Man (2025)
      A Working Man
      5.7
      • screenplay by
      • 2025
    • Shia LaBeouf, Jose Conejo Martin, Bobby Soto, and Cheyenne Rae Hernandez in The Tax Collector (2020)
      The Tax Collector
      4.9
      • written by
      • 2020
    • Jayson Sanchez, Ryan Caldwell, Reagan Shankland, Elena Ghenoiu, and Gino Alvarez in The Fast and the Furious: Underground (2019)
      The Fast and the Furious: Underground
      3.7
      Short
      • based on characters created by
      • 2019
    • Bill Paxton and Justin Cornwell in Training Day (2017)
      Training Day
      6.1
      TV Series
      • based on the screenplay "Training Day" written by
      • story by
      • 2017
    • Will Smith, Jared Leto, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Viola Davis, Jay Hernandez, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, and Karen Fukuhara in Suicide Squad (2016)
      Suicide Squad
      5.9
      • written by
      • 2016
    • Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal in Fury (2014)
      Fury
      7.6
      • written by
      • 2014
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Williams, and Sam Worthington in Sabotage (2014)
      Sabotage
      5.7
      • written by
      • 2014
    • Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña in End of Watch (2012)
      End of Watch
      7.6
      • written by
      • 2012
    • Christian Bale in Harsh Times (2005)
      Harsh Times
      6.8
      • written by
      • 2005
    • S.W.A.T. (2003)
      S.W.A.T.
      6.1
      • screenplay
      • 2003
    • Ving Rhames and Kurt Russell in Dark Blue (2002)
      Dark Blue
      6.6
      • screenplay
      • 2002
    • Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington in Training Day (2001)
      Training Day
      7.8
      • written by
      • 2001
    • Rob Cohen, Vin Diesel, David Ayer, Jordana Brewster, Chad Lindberg, Michelle Rodriguez, Johnny Strong, Gary Scott Thompson, and Paul Walker in The Fast and the Furious (2001)
      The Fast and the Furious
      6.8
      • screenplay
      • 2001
    • U-571 (2000)
      U-571
      6.6
      • screenplay
      • 2000

    Director



    • Heart of the Beast
      • Director
      • In Production
    • Dirty Dozen
      • Director
      • Pre-production



    • Jason Statham in A Working Man (2025)
      A Working Man
      5.7
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2025
    • Jason Statham in The Beekeeper (2024)
      The Beekeeper
      6.3
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2024
    • Shia LaBeouf, Jose Conejo Martin, Bobby Soto, and Cheyenne Rae Hernandez in The Tax Collector (2020)
      The Tax Collector
      4.9
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Deputy (2020)
      Deputy
      6.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Will Smith and Joel Edgerton in Bright (2017)
      Bright
      6.3
      • Director
      • 2017
    • Machine Gun Kelly feat. X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha: Home (2017)
      Machine Gun Kelly feat. X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha: Home
      6.4
      Music Video
      • Director
      • 2017
    • Will Smith, Jared Leto, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Viola Davis, Jay Hernandez, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, and Karen Fukuhara in Suicide Squad (2016)
      Suicide Squad
      5.9
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla Sign and X Ambassadors: Sucker for Pain (2016)
      Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla Sign and X Ambassadors: Sucker for Pain
      6.5
      Music Video
      • Director
      • 2016
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Williams, and Sam Worthington in Sabotage (2014)
      Sabotage: Alternate Endings:
      5.8
      Video
      • Director
      • 2014
    • Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, and Jon Bernthal in Fury (2014)
      Fury
      7.6
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2014
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Williams, and Sam Worthington in Sabotage (2014)
      Sabotage
      5.7
      • Director
      • 2014
    • Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña in End of Watch (2012)
      End of Watch
      7.6
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2012
    • Anna Kendrick in LCD Soundsystem: Pow Pow (2010)
      LCD Soundsystem: Pow Pow
      5.8
      Music Video
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Chris Evans, Hugh Laurie, Common, Martha Higareda, and The Game in Street Kings (2008)
      Street Kings
      6.8
      • Director
      • 2008
    • Christian Bale in Harsh Times (2005)
      Harsh Times
      6.8
      • Director
      • 2005

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
    Clip 4:46
    Is the New 'Joker' Most Like Jared, Heath, or Jack?
    Blitz Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Blitz Trailer
    Blitz Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Blitz Trailer
    'Bright' Stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton Aren't Your Mother's Buddy Cops
    Video 2:30
    'Bright' Stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton Aren't Your Mother's Buddy Cops

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Instagram
      • X
    • Height
      • 6′ 2½″ (1.89 m)
    • Born
      • January 18, 1968
      • Champaign, Illinois, USA
    • Spouse
      • MireyaSeptember 26, 2002 - August 15, 2017 (filed for divorce, 4 children)
    • Children
        Cynthia
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Article

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Served in the United States Navy.
    • Quotes
      [on his notorious U-571 (2000) screenplay] It was a distortion... a mercenary decision to create this parallel history in order to drive the movie for an American audience... Both my grandparents were officers in World War Two, and I would be personally offended if somebody distorted their achievements.
    • Trademarks
        His movies are frequently set in Los Angeles
    • Salary
      • Training Day
        (2001)
        $1,000,000

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is David Ayer?
      57 years old
    • When was David Ayer born?
      January 18, 1968
    • Where was David Ayer born?
      Champaign, Illinois, USA
    • How tall is David Ayer?
      6 feet 3 inches, or 1.89 meters
    • What is David Ayer known for?
      Suicide Squad, Sabotage, End of Watch, and A Working Man

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