When you look back at the 2016 Suicide Squad and then look at James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, it is a night and day contrast in terms of character development, plot, and overall quality. Seeing the error of their ways with the first iteration, WB handed the reigns over to Gunn and let him run wild- and it paid off in spades. This soft reboot/quasi-sequel saw the return of a few characters from the first film, like Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, and Amanda Waller. One character that was never even considered by Gunn for a return, however, is one of DC’s greatest villains: Joker.
Gunn was asked during an interview with The New York Times as to whether or not he had considered bringing back Jared Leto’s Joker for his Task Force X. His answer was simple and to the point, as he is known to do:
“I just don’t know why Joker would be in the Suicide Squad. He wouldn’t be helpful in that type of war situation.”
Leto’s take on the Clown Prince of Crime is polarizing at best. And, Gunn has never shied away from his distain for the actor. So, it makes perfect sense to not even consider including him in the film. Also, for those who have seen the movie, and more importantly how Harley is portrayed (as the film continues her growth from Birds of Prey), Joker just doesn’t work at all in the movie. He couldn’t have been the film’s villain and he definitely wouldn’t have worked on the team as a member of Task Force X, so leaving him out seems fair and proper.
The Suicide Squad is an incredible film that is just a fun ride for the fans. The exclusion of the Joker when compared to the characters we got makes total sense – and Gunn definitely made the right call.
Do you agree that Joker wouldn’t fit in The Suicide Squad? Let us know in the comments below!