Rewind a year ago – and fans may remember the DCEU finding itself in a hard place, at least critically. Suicide Squad, after a rocky stage of reshoots and post-production, rose in particular to a status of production infamy. This was aided in no small part by Oscar winning actor Jared Leto’s bizarre behind the scenes performance.
In the press tour, the Suicide Squad cast remarked at never seeing the 45-year-old out of character. Some, even remarked, at bizarre on-set pranks such as boxes containing deceased animals, and other, more salacious items.
Though, Leto recently called this a rumor:
“No, there’s so much hype and bullsh– about that, I think it’s just fun thing to talk about. Even when [Suicide Squad] came out, there was so much misrepresentation about what went down, about the method acting crap. It’s just that 90% of it was not even true. It just takes on a life of its own.
[Filming Suicide Squad] was an incredible experience, everyone was amazing. Margot Robbie [is] one of the nicest people and one of the best actresses I’ve ever worked with. I really loved working with her.
I thought the scenes we did together were some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a set before. But everything is great in that world and I’m really proud to be a part of it.”
David Ayer, however, rose to Twitter to dispel at least in some part the reputation surrounding the DCEU’s current Joker.
It was a pleasure working with @JaredLeto He was a total gentlemen. Rumors are more exciting than truth. https://t.co/arCyPbOAUW
— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) August 24, 2017
Rumors are indeed more exciting than truth. It seems Ayer was both satisfied by Leto’s performance as Joker, but also by his conduct on set as an actor.
The kind words come shortly after the news of a new Joker movie – one without Leto reprising the role. The film has little known about it – only that the highly acclaimed director Martin Scorcese will be in the director’s chair. It will be Scorcese’s first superhero film.
Considering how vocal Leto was at the way his performance was shown in Ayer’s film, he has since said he would return for a sequel. Leto famously said he had shot enough footage for a movie starring just himself – and was perplexed at how his screen time amounted to just a few minutes. Due to his acclaim within Hollywood as an actor, it is unlikely he signed on as a glorified extra.
Leto is particular with his parts, often taking on only one role every one or two years. But whatever his gripes were previously, it seems the actor is willing to move forward within the DCEU.
Recently, it was confirmed that a Joker and Harley Quinn film is in development – and also that Suicide Squad 2 is moving into pre-production, with a shooting schedule slated for 2017.
It seems Leto and his role as the Joker, is here to stay.