Jared Leto Joker News: 'Suicide Squad' Actor's Craziest Method Tactics On Set [VIDEO]
Jared Leto has gone to some pretty outrageous measures to stay in character as The Joker in the upcoming blockbuster Suicide Squad.
Leto has taken a "method" approach to playing The Joker, a styling of acting in which the performer essentially becomes their character. This can mean only wishing to be referred to by their character name, exhibiting behavior reflective of their character on set and more.
By all accounts, Leto has gone full method in playing the chaotic insanity that is The Joker. Here are some of the first-hand accounts of the actor getting really into his character on the set of Suicide Squad.
Only Going By "Mr. J"
Suicide Squad producer Charles Roven said that Leto would only show up to work if he was referred to as Mr. J, a nickname frequently used for The Joker.
"He did in many ways isolate himself from the rest of the group, but that's really what his character was, the purpose of his character in many ways, other than when he was with Harley or trying to get Harley," Roven added. "It was very entertaining, it was fuel for a lot of good sport and a lot of laughs, and his isolation bonded the squad, and we wanted the squad bonded."
Will Smith Never Really Met Him
Smith, who plays Deadshot in the film, admitted that they did not interact as fellow actors on set.
"I've never actually met Jared Leto. We worked together for 6 months and we've never exchanged a word outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!' I literally have not met him yet. So, the first time I see him will be 'Hey, Jared. What's up?' He was all in on the Joker."
He Sent Cast Members a Dead Hog, a Rat and Bullets
Inhabiting The Joker's chaos, Leto sent Margot Robbie "a nice love letter with a black box with a rat in it-a live rat," said Adam Beach, who plays Slipknot. "It was beautiful. Then he sent bullets to Will [Smith] with a letter."
He also sent the whole cast a dead hog and sent bullets to Smith.
Also, He Sent Anal Beads and Used Condoms
But it doesn't stop there! Leto recently said that he sent anal beads and used condoms to Smith, Robbie and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. "I did a lot of things to create a dynamic, to create an element of surprise, of spontaneity, and to really break down any kind of walls that may be there," Leto told E! News.. "The Joker is somebody who doesn't really respect things like personal space or boundaries."
Margot Robbie Can't Even Talk About It
Robbie won't even reveal some of the things she received from Leto, saying in the same E! News interview, "I can't even begin to tell you the things I got [from Jared]. By that point, I feel like I knew The Joker a bit, so it wasn't as alarming, but yeah, there were many instances where I didn't know what to expect from Jared."
Suicide Squad will be released in theaters on Aug. 5.
