It's safe to say that Jared Leto took the Joker role to a different place in 2016's Suicide Squad.
The heavily promoted DC film featured a star-studded cast of dangerous criminals known as Task Force X.
Led by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), the group consisted of Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Diablo (Jay Hernandez), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney).
Their mission statement was to put a stop to powerful sorceress Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), who threatens to destroy the world.
Advert
Meanwhile, they also have the small matter of the Joker (Leto) to deal with as he seeks to rescue Harley Quinn.
Meanwhile, Leto thought it was best to method act throughout, and his plan left his co-stars very concerned on one occasion.
In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, Davis recalled the creepy way the Morbius actor introduced himself on set.
"The henchman came in with a dead pig and plopped it on the table and then he walked out. And that was our introduction to Jared Leto," she said.
Advert
"Now I'm terrified just as a person thinking 'Is he crazy?'
"But the second part was, 'Oh s**t, I've got to have my stuff together'.
"You talk about commitment.
"And then he sends Margot Robbie a black rat, that was still alive in a box.
"She screamed, and then she kept it."
Advert
On the Joker role itself, Leto said there wasn't 'much hesitation' having to follow in Heath Ledger's footsteps.
He told GQ: "But let me say a few things. Number one, Heath Ledger: Not only was he perfect as the Joker—perfect.
"There’s not a single frame where he’s not great. Not only was he perfect in that role, but it’s probably one of the best performances, not just of a villain but maybe one of the best performances on film, period. Period.
"That’s my opinion. And that was my opinion before I got the call. It was a perfect performance, and those are very rare.
Advert
"Then you have Jack Nicholson, one of the world’s legends. So you have two legends. Then you have Cesar Romero, and then you have Mark Hamill, who does this incredible voice acting.
"Then you have 75 years that the Joker has been written about and brought to life by artists.
"But in a way, the fact that it has been interpreted so many times I think gave me a great sense of freedom and permission to walk down a different path."
Topics: Jared Leto, Suicide Squad, Joker
Anish Vij