Did Jared Leto Spoil Suicide Squad Plot With New Snapchat ‘Joker’ Filter? [Video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dTT2qWqCfo
Jared Leto presented himself as the ultimate “Joker” on April 1 by surprising his followers with a Snapchat snippet of him using the new Joker-themed filter. Created by the Suicide Squad marketing team, the new lens allows users to transform themselves into the “Clown Prince of Crime,” with options such as the “damaged” tattoo, smudged makeup, and chalk-white skin. There’s even a hair-raising laugh to make it even creepier.
According to CBS News, the multi-talented actor appeared with a beard, looking “gaunt” and introducing himself as the “bearded Joker,” and he included a message that fans hope was an April Fool’s joke and not a sign of things to come. Co-star Viola Davis told Vanity Fair recently that Jared Leto introduced himself to his costars by having one of the Joker’s henchmen deliver a dead pig to the set.
Exclusive! Meet the bearded JOKER #JokerWasHere pic.twitter.com/RNJZmTMJ7I
— JARED LETO (@JaredLeto) April 1, 2016
Leto appearing scragglier than normal and more disturbing with the “Joker” filter than without wasn’t enough to put off his fans. In fact, it provoked a slew of imitators on social media and reignited Leto’s legions, who are looking forward to his performance in the much-anticipated anti-hero movie coming in August.
Guess What? Batman is dead. BwwahahahaaaaaaaHAA!!!
All of the clues point to Jared pulling yet another prank because, according to Metro,Batman has a cameo at the end of Suicide Squad, and there are images of Ben Affleck’s stunt double hard at work posted on entertainment sites and comic book fan pages. Rumors have surfaced about reshoots of the film ever since the theatrical release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to make it more humorous due to the latter’s mixed reviews, which centered on how dark and depressing it was. Apparently, the dreariness of the film affected Leto as well, who admits to going to some pretty dark places while developing the character.
“I took a pretty deep dive. But this was a unique opportunity and I couldn’t imagine doing it another way. It was fun, playing those psychological games.”
Unique opportunity indeed. There has been a great deal of media attention about Jared Leto and his physical interpretation of the infamous character, but only a glimpse of how the 30 Seconds to Mars frontman has reimagined the role. The previous incarnations of Batman’s nemesis were portrayed to rave reviews by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. Jared says he approached the role with the intention of making the part his own.
“The work that’s been done on this character by so many people before me has been so impactful, so incredible, so much fun, so profound, so risky, that it’s a very special thing to be asked to take on that responsibility.”
The visually graphic film has quite the ensemble in addition to Leto: Will Smith (Dead Shot), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn) who also worked with Smith in Focus, Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), Cara DeleVigne (Enchantress), and Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), just to name a few. DC enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see whether or not these not-too-familiar villains will be portrayed with their special abilities intact. It would be senseless not to, but die-hard fans are skeptical. Regardless, with a movie crammed with this many celebrities plus Jared Leto, who has thus far been the most talked about, it is difficult to see it as anything other than what it is destined to be — a bonafied hit.
[Image via Warner Bros.]
