Jared Leto explains his approach to going full Joker for Suicide Squad

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The stories have been out there for awhile about Jared Leto embracing his methodology as an actor in order to bring The Joker to life for SUICIDE SQUAD. The only way for him to become The Joker was to let the character fully encompass him as he attempted to bring a very different version to the big screen than either Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger had done before him. In order to get in the right mindset and also help his fellow actors get into the right head space to work opposite him, Leto sent some gifts to the rest of the cast – rats, bullets, hogs, etc…. You know, your typical Christmas presents. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg if you thought those were bad, because in an interview with E! News at CinemaCon, Leto revealed it truly was much worse as he explained the why of his process.

E! News: Now, how about the gifts you gave everyone? Rats. Bullets. A hog. Where did that come from?

Jared Leto: Don't forget the anal beads…

E! News: Who did you send anal beads to?

Jared Leto: …the used condoms…

E! News: You did not.

Jared Leto: Um, yeah. It was…

E! News: You can't just say 'used condoms' and we're just gonna, like, forget that–

Jared Leto: No, I know it's a family show–

E! News: Well, don't worry about–

Jared Leto: — but we can educate the people here. At least they were used. Look, I did a lot of things to create a dynamic, to create an element of surprise, spontaneity…

E! News: That's surprise (sic)!

Jared Leto: …and to break down any walls that might be there. I mean, the Joker is somebody who doesn't really respect things like personal space or boundaries.
 

Anal beads and used condoms, huh? That's the stuff comic book supervillains are made of in the ever-expanding DC Cinematic Universe. It sure ain't sugar and spice.

SUICIDE SQUAD opens in theaters, sans soiled prophylactics, on August 5.