Jared Leto’s Joker in ‘Suicide Squad’ is Based on Frank Miller’s “Dark Knight Returns”

I know what you’re thinking, why does the picture of Jared Leto at right look like something out the French New Wave, isn’t this post about Suicide Squad? To answer your first question, I’m not sure, and to answer your second, yes it is, but this is the picture director David Ayer tweeted of Leto earlier this month so it is the one I’m using and you’ll just have to roll with it. Continuing on…

I feel like half the things I’ve produced for the site since I began writing in the fall have been about the upcoming adaptation of DC ComicsSuicide Squad, and the trend continues today as Latino Review (via The Playlist) reports the film’s version of The Joker, played by a newly coiffed Jared Leto, draws heavily from Frank Miller‘s take on the character in his beloved graphic novel “The Dark Knight Returns“.

The report comes from Latino Review’s Instagram post (see in full at the bottom of this post), which dives into some brief character details before working its way into spoiler territory, which I’ve avoided for the sake of keeping in tact the excitement I have for the film. In case you were curious what Leto’s Joker will look like, however, here’s a description:

“He’s lean & scarred but his suit does have broad shoulders. Joker works out in his cell like an inmate when he is interrogated by Amanda Waller. He’s doing hand stand push ups so it makes sense that Jared Leto said he is putting on weight. He’s definitely not skinny, but in fact more muscular. He has bleached skin not make up.”

[amz asin=”1563893428″ size=”small”]I guess I’m not entirely sure why he’s wearing a broad-shoulder suit in jail, apparently this version of the Joker ain’t got no time for traditional prison garb, but I suppose I can overlook that little detail. It sounds like we are getting a version of the character far different from the ones delivered by Jack Nicholson in Batman and Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, though I assume Leto’s incarnation will be closer in tone to Ledger’s, given Frank Miller’s source material.

Speaking of source material, director David Ayer is taking another crack at the script, according to a recent tweet of his, and I just have to share this because it reads like all the nonsense most people post on social media, such as, “Just got done at the gym, time for a snack!” Also, I just love the hashtag “#writing”, I think I might start using it in my posts from now on when I see fit.

In case you forget, people in the entertainment industry aren’t entirely different from us, they want to keep everyone informed about what’s going on in their lives and Ayer’s tweet reminds me of that, so thanks for the heads up, Mr. Ayer. As always, I’m sure there are plenty more details to come, because there almost always are, so grab a bite and have a glass of water because we’re in this for the long haul, baby! #writing

Today’s #SUICIDESQUAD FIRE is all about Jared Leto’s THE JOKER! So what I’m being told, Leto’s Joker is most definitely based on THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS version. He’s lean & scarred but his suit does have broad shoulders. Joker works out in his cell like an inmate when he is interrogated by Amanda Waller. He’s doing hand stand push ups so it makes sense that Jared Leto said he is putting on weight. He’s definitely not skinny, but in fact more muscular. He has bleached skin not make up. #SPOILER – He’s killed one of Batman’s sidekicks, there is a lot of references to his past crimes. He kills a lot of people. HUGE #RUMOR – I’m also told The Joker has a lot of scenes with HUGO STRANGE! He’s the psychiatrist at the prison & seems to be a part of the story yet I heard nothing of casting or mention of a single casting choice. Hugo Strange has quite a few interactions with the Joker & Harley Quinn. It’s not the regular security. It’s internal one on one thing. #THEJOKER #THEDARKKNIGHTRETURNS #JAREDLETO #HUGOSTRANGE #AMANDAWALLER #HARLEYQUINN #DC #DCCU #DCCOMICS #SCOOP #FIRE #BOOM

A photo posted by Umberto Gonzalez (@umbertogonzalez) on Mar 13, 2015 at 6:42am PDT

Movie News
Marvel and DC
X