David Ayer, Suicide Squad director denies the statements that say he hated Jared Leto’s Joker. It’s been three years since Warner Bros. and DC’s anti-hero-centric film debuted, and now they’re already working on another one.
James Gunn takes over directing and writing The Suicide Squad, which tripped to come out in 2021 and is described as a soft reboot, but this time with predominantly different people involved.
But as production for that goes on, the studio’s initial take on the IP has become the topic of discussion in fan communities, following a report revealing new details about the 2016 movie.
Everything began when a report from THR that shares the details on how frustrated Leto about Todd Phillips’ Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix, and he reportedly tried to kill it. It seems like there are no plans for him to pop out in the Suicide Squad, it also reveals that Leto won’t appear in Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) either.
The original article also implied that Ayer didn’t like the actor’s portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime – which is the thing he vehemently denies.
On Ayer’s official Twitter account, he was asked to comment on THR’s report regarding his true feelings about Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad, and he obliged by straightforwardly debunking it. The filmmaker called it “inaccurate information, and also added that those depicted in the article are definitely not his words or actions. Here’s the full tweet below:
Bolstered by reports that Leto went totally method in preparation for his comic book role, there was so much anticipation on the actor’s Joker prior to his Suicide Squad debut.
There was backlash once the public learned he had very limited screen times as if his appearance was only a glorified came, it caused by the marketing for the film that put him on front and center and giving fans the idea that he’ll be a major player in the narrative. Since then, Leto has yet to reprise his role as the Clown Prince of Crime, and if recent reports turn out to be true, his days playing the iconic DC villain are pretty much will be over.
Remembering that Leto truly put so much effort in the work to effectively play such a high profile character, that’s admittedly unfair for him. Also, considering how little he was in Suicide Squad, it’s pretty difficult to have a set opinion on his own version of the Joker.
Much more so to compare him with Phoenix’s iteration. Comic book fans can still catch the actor at Sony as Morbius The Living Vampire in Sony’s Morbius even there may not be any more Leto in the DCEU. And given that he’s top-billing in the flick, there are chances that fans will see more of him as the Joker on the big screen.