It was almost inevitable, wasn’t it? Despite the fact that the casting of Heath Ledger raised questions and concerns, Dallas Buyers Club star Jared Leto was faced with a similar feeling of apathy from the vocal minority of the interwebs upon joining David Ayer’s Suicide Squad as the Joker.
Gunning for a decidedly different rendition of the Clown Prince of Crime, Leto’s version of the famed DC supervillain has been described as more calculating and conniving crook than previous screen appearances. The psycho to Ledger’s anarchist, if you will. Fast forward to today and the actor himself has posted a new message to Instagram, reassuring fans that his take on the Joker will deliver.
In fact, the photo itself pays homage to those actors who have donned the villainous guise in the past – specifically, the aforementioned Ledger and Jack Nicholson.
Whatever Leto has up his sleeve, it’ll have to remain within the PG-13 bracket, after DC producer Charles Roven noted that all entries into the company’s Expanded Universe from Dawn of Justice up until the two-part Justice League will adhere to the same rating. Of course, the Joker wasn’t given much screentime in the first trailer for Suicide Squad, though we do know he’ll have an irreversible affect on one Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel.
For better or worse, the moviegoing masses will be able to give their own verdict on Leto’s turn as the Clown Prince of Crime when David Ayer’s Suicide Squad opens on August 5, 2016.