‘A terrible idea’: Jared Leto set to return as Joker in Justice League Snyder Cut, but not everyone is pleased
Actor previously played the role to mixed reviews in 2016’s ‘Suicide Squad’
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Jared Leto is set to reprise the role of the famous Batman villain Joker in Zack Snyder’s forthcoming Justice League director’s cut.
The actor previously played the role in 2016’s critically panned supervillain team-up film Suicide Squad, but did not appear in the original Justice League.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leto will join Ben Affleck, Ray Fisher and Amber Heard among the actors participating in the extensive re-shoots.
Snyder’s re-editing of Justice League is being undertaken for the streaming service HBO Max, and came at the behest of fans who spent the years since Justice League’s original debut demanding the release of “the Snyder cut”.
The project will be released on HBO Max next year, reportedly in the form of a four-episode limited series.
The news of Leto’s casting has not been met with unanimous approval from fans, however.
Leto’s preparation for the role and method acting techniques were controversial at the time, with the actor infamously sending his co-stars used condoms in the post.
His performance as Joker, following on from Heath Ledger’s posthumous Oscar-winning portrayal in 2008’s The Dark Knight, was also met with mixed reviews.
“I truly dont understand the people that like his Joker,” wrote one commenter on Twitter.
“Joaquin Phoenix was so impactful as Joker [in 2019’s Joker]. It’s one of those situations where anybody else who takes on the role will fall short,” wrote someone else.
“So to go back to someone who was arguably the worst Joker (not his fault) is a terrible idea.”
“Is this whole ‘desperately want the Snyder Justice League cut released’ an internet joke that got out of hand?” asked another. “I thought it was genuine, but now they're pretending genuine enthusiasm about the return of Leto's Joker? That can't be real, can it?”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Others, however, were more forgiving, with many fans either arguing in favour of his Suicide Squad interpretation of the character, or saying that he deserved to be given a second chance to shine.
“Honestly, i feel like he deserves another shot considering Suicide Squad as a whole wasn’t that great,” wrote one Twitter user.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments