Jared Leto As The Joker? Reports Say He’s Being Eyed For ‘Suicide Squad’
Actor Jared Leto is reportedly being considered to play The Joker in the DC Comics big-screen adaption of Suicide Squad, according to Coming Soon.
Recent reports have shown that director David Ayer has been targeting quite a few A-list actors and actresses to form the ensemble cast for Suicide Squad — including Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Tom Hardy and Will Smith.
Rumors and speculation online claim that Jesse Eisenberg is reportedly going to reprise his Batman v Superman role as Lex Luthor in this highly-anticipated film.
The Wrap reported on Friday that Oscar-winning actor and 30 Seconds from Mars front man Jared Leto is being targeted to play The Joker, the infamous nemesis of the Caped Crusader and Dark Knight himself.
Earlier reports claimed that Jared Leto was in the running to play Doctor Strange for Marvel Studios, but that role has reportedly gone to Benedict Cumberbatch — even though Marvel Studios has yet to confirm that decision.
If it is true that Marvel overlooked Jared Leto and went with someone else, then their loss could very well end up being a big win for DC — especially if he is playing The Joker.
The last time that The Joker was played on the big-screen was when Heath Ledger took on the role (and won a posthumous Oscar for doing so) in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. With such huge shoes to fill, many fans and critics have been wondering who would be the next actor to take on the role — especially with the potential franchise reboot that Ben Affleck might bring along with his performance in Batman v Superman.
However, the 42-year-old actor might just be the man for the job. Like Heath Ledger, Jared Leto is known for his versatility and impressive acting chops in addition to his Oscar award for Best Supporting Actor in Dallas Buyers Club.
Leto would also be bringing a massive following along with him — including the fans of his work on the big screen as well as the fans of his music.
The original concept of the Suicide Squad was developed in the late 1950s by Ross Andru and Robert Kanigher.
The ensemble consisted of a vast number of DC villains — including Captain Boomerang, Killer Frost, Count Vertigo, Harley Quinn, Deathstroke, Poison Ivy, Deadshot and Bane.
Quite a few of those names have also been rumored to be starring in David Ayer’s adaptation, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Suicide Squad is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on August 5, 2016.
What do you think? Will Jared Leto make a good Joker (if he decides to take the role)? Or, is there a better role in the DC or Marvel Cinematic Universe that would be a better fit for him?
[Image Credits: Screen Relish and Screen Rant]
