10 Fun Facts About Jared Leto's "Joker"

According to the cast, Jared Leto maintained his character throughout the entire filming process. Renowned for his method acting, Leto immersed himself in the unsettling role of the "Joker" by delving into the character's life and psyche.

In the aftermath of Heath Ledger's tragic death following his portrayal of the character, the 'Suicide Squad' production made the decision to have a therapist on set. This professional not only supported Leto during his intense transformation but also provided assistance to the rest of the cast if they needed help coping with the emotional toll of portraying dark moments.

Margot Robbie, who portrays "Harley Quinn" in the film, revealed in interviews that Jared Leto, staying in character, sent her a love letter along with a rat. The rat, named Venustiano, ended up being adopted by film director Guillermo del Toro. Unfortunately, Venustiano passed away in 2017.

As Leto couldn't be present for rehearsals, he opted for unconventional and inappropriate gifts for his on-screen co-stars. This included a video of the character apologizing for his absence and, shockingly, a dead pig presented to one of the actors.

Predictably, given Leto's in-character behavior during filming, some of his co-stars were genuinely frightened. Scott Eastwood, son of the legendary Clint Eastwood, openly admitted to being truly terrified by the actor.

Drawing inspiration from various rock icons, including Iggy Pop, Jared Leto, being a musician himself, found his greatest muse in David Bowie. The influence extends beyond costumes to movements, creating a somewhat unsettling yet captivating homage to Bowie in his portrayal.

The film was released on the 50th anniversary of the "Joker"s on-screen debut in the 'Batman' series. It's intriguing that Leto's version was chosen for this significant milestone!

Initially, the producers contemplated casting Ryan Gosling as the "Joker." However, Gosling declined the role, citing his reluctance to be bound to the character and commit to a multi-film contract with Warner. His portrayal would have undoubtedly brought a distinct flavor to the character.

The actor was significantly bothered by the decision to cut a substantial portion of his scenes, allocating more focus to Will Smith's character. In total, Leto's appearance amounts to just over 11 minutes, a relatively brief duration considering the considerable effort invested in both the acting and production of the character.

Jared Leto pursued a non-human look for the "Joker" by opting for a hairless body. To achieve this, he underwent full-body waxing, leaving no part untouched!