‘Suicide Squad’ Star Jared Leto Freaked Out Random People To Perfect The Joker’s Insane Laugh

Playing the role of the iconic villain the Joker is a challenge for each and every actor no matter the generation, and it was no different for Suicide Squad star Jared Leto.

It’s no secret: It takes special preparation and just the right amount of crazy. There’s the hair, the make-up, the costume, the dark past, and the deranged thinking that actors have to get used to and own. But one of the staples in memorable past performances is the Joker’s eerie and unquestionable laugh. It’s a trademark of The Joker, and it isn’t easy to master.

To prepare to play the latest Joker to hit the big screen, Jared Leto, who lost 40 pounds for his role in Dallas Buyers Club, and gained 60 pounds for the film Chapter 27, recently talked about how he prepared for the Joker’s memorable laugh.

“I worked on the laugh walking around the streets of New York and Toronto, and I kinda would walk around the streets and see what laughs would get under people’s skin,” Leto admitted to the hosts of CNBC’s Squawk Box, Variety reports.

“You know when you hear someone laugh at a restaurant? It’s a little jarring. I tried them out. And I kind of got to a place where I would laugh and people are always turning around like, ‘Who is this creepy guy behind me?'” he added.

Of course, Cinema Blend reminds everyone that it shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise that Leto walked around trying to scare strangers while perfecting the Joker’s laugh. On the set of Suicide Squad, it has been well documented that Leto went to various lengths, sometimes extreme ones, to get the best possible feel for his character.

Remember, this is the same Leto that sent a dead pig, used condoms, and anal beads to cast mates, and gifted co-star Margot Robbie a dead rat. He also demanded that he be referred to only as Mr. J on set. Leto also went to the extreme of meeting with real-life killers to get a grasp on The Joker’s mentality.

But Leto will need all of his stunts and tricks to match up with past Joker performances like Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, and, of course, the late Heath Ledger, who won an Oscar for his portrayal.

When co-star Jai Courtney, who plays Captain Boomerang, was asked about Leto’s dedication to his role, he said, “I don’t know how you measure that these days. I haven’t seen him, since we started working, out-of-character, let’s put it that way.”

In other Suicide Squad news, star Margot Robbie said, according to the Independent, that if the squad returns for a sequel, she would say no to wearing hot pants again. She opened up about her costume, or lack thereof, in an interview with the New York Times.

“As Margot, no, I don’t like wearing that. I’m eating burgers at lunchtime, and then you go do a scene where you’re hosed down and soaking wet in a white T-shirt, it’s so clingy and you’re self-conscious about it,” she explained. “I’m not wearing hot pants next time.”

To see Leto’s portrayal of the Joker and all the other bad guys be sure to watch Suicide Squad when it finally hits theaters August 5, 2016.

So fans, tell us what you think of Jared Leto’s wild and crazy stunts. Is using dead pigs, dead rats, and sending used condoms to co-stars going overboard? What about trying to scare unsuspecting strangers with the laugh of a madman while they are simply enjoying dinner? Let us know in the comments, and check out the latest Suicide Squad preview below.

[Image via Warner Bros.]