Film is scheduled for an August 2016 release, director David Ayer is in talks to helm it, casting is ongoing

Nov 10, 2014 17:03 GMT  ·  By
Jared Leto might star as The Joker in Warners’ upcoming “Suicide Squad” movie
4 photos
   Jared Leto might star as The Joker in Warners’ upcoming “Suicide Squad” movie

Warner Bros. has a plan to create a rich and intriguing superhero cinema universe, at least as rich and captivating as the one Marvel’s got already. Right now, studio bosses are ironing out the details for a 2016 planned “Suicide Squad” movie.

Slated for release in August that year, the film would be unlike any other superhero movie, in that it will focus on a group of dangerous DC Comics villains who get another shot at doing things right. Part of this Squad, also known as Task Force X, is also The Joker.

The Hollywood Reporter knows who will play this iconic villain: Jared Leto.

“Suicide Squad” is coming along nicely

For a very long time, the film was just a rumor, with Warners refusing to say anything on the topic, either to deny or confirm it. With the release date came the confirmation and the greenlight to speculate on who might play some of those iconic villains.

The Joker is said to be included, but also Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot, and Captain Boomerang. So far, we’ve had model Cara Delevingne linked to the role of Harley Quinn, but word has it that Will Smith and Margot Robbie are also in negotiations.

Even better, there is buzz that British actor Tom Hardy is already on board. Since he played Bane in Christopher Nolan’s third and last Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” it is believed that he would be reprising that role.

Now we also have a contender for the role of The Joker, perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable villains of all times, not just from the DC universe.

Large shoes to fill for Leto

To make matters even more tricky, if Leto accepts the offer, he will have to be filling a pair of very large shoes, because all actors who played the part brought something new to the character, something to make it even more memorable.

It all started with Cesar Romero, who played The Joker in the Batman TV series in the ‘60s and who created the evil laugh. The character was brought to even sharper definition with Jack Nicholson’s version in 1989 and brought to perfection with the late Heath Ledger’s performance in “The Dark Knight.”

To this day, Ledger’s Joker, for which he won his only Oscar, is considered one of the most frightening and best portrayed villains in film. So yes, Leto will have huge shoes to fill, if he accepts the part.

Jared Leto, a man with a plan

Then again, Leto isn’t the kind of artist who just jumps into a new film without knowing what he’s getting into. Earlier this month, he told the same media outlet that he already had his next project picked up and that he was very excited about going into a different direction than before. He would not, however, say what that project was.

Leto’s career is proof that he’s very picky about his projects, because he only chooses to do those that mean something to him. For instance, since “Dallas Buyers Club,” for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2013, he hasn’t done any work in film, focusing solely on his band 30 Seconds to Mars.

Before this one, he did “Mr. Nobody” in 2009 and “Chapter 27” in 2007. Whether his picks are successful or not doesn’t even seem to matter to him, because he will do a movie if he believes in it.

Leto also has the gravitas to pull off such a complex and deranged villain. He is known for his dedication to his work and has talent to breathe life into his characters. “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Requiem for a Dream,” and even “Chapter 27” are testament to his hard work, commitment, and talent.

The Joker through the years (4 Images)

Jared Leto might star as The Joker in Warners’ upcoming “Suicide Squad” movie
Cesar Romero as The Joker in the Batman TV series, who invented the evil laughJack Nicholson played The Joker in 1989, for the big screen release “Batman”
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