It seems Warner Bros. is keen on making a standalone Joker film featuring Jared Leto. Leto first appeared as the iconic villain Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad.
According to an exclusive report coming from Variety, Leto will reprise the role of Joker in the upcoming movie and also executive produce the stand-alone project set in the Suicide Squad universe. Directed by David Ayer, Suicide Squad featured a crew of DC supervillains as antiheroes including Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Leto, among others. Although the film was poorly reviewed, it did manage to gross around $746.8 million at the global box office on a budget of $175 million.
While fans loved Leto’s interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime in Suicide Squad, they were disappointed to find that the character didn’t get much screen time in the film. Warner Bros.’ decision to roll out a standalone DC Comics film featuring Leto is expected to pave the way for future movies branching from Suicide Squad.
Set within the DC Extended Universe, the yet-untitled Warner Bros. project is currently in the early stages of development. The film does not have a writer or director attached as of yet. Plot details are currently under the wraps. It isn’t clear when the film will start production and hit theaters.
Leto’s standalone film will reportedly be separate from another standalone Joker film being directed by The Hangover’s Todd Philipps, which will explore the character’s origin story. Philipp’s Joker film is planned as part of a new banner separate from the current DC extended universe. Joaquin Phoenix is rumored to star as the iconic comic book villain in the film. Its production is expected to kick off this year.
Another Suicide Squad spinoff film currently in the making is Birds of Prey featuring Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. There’s no word yet if Joker will appear in Birds of Prey. Rumors about a spin-off featuring the Joker and Quinn’s criminal love story are also making rounds.
Unfortunately, the news of Leto’s version of Joker getting a standalone film hasn’t been taken lightly. A lot of fans are confused and seem to resent the idea. Furthermore, with the development of the other standalone joker film, it’s understandable why the confusion will exist till the studio makes an announcement. Hopefully, we get to hear that at SDCC 2018.
Did you like Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad? Let us know in comments below.
So, wait. You're telling me that Jared Leto is getting his own #Joker film as well as Joaquin Phoenix? pic.twitter.com/Hkhc2EAcOG
— Connor Behrens (@ConnorBehrens) June 5, 2018
The only person who wants this god awful #Joker movie is Jared Leto pic.twitter.com/QjZMe5l29i
— Elizabeth L. Garcia (@lizzylynngarcia) June 5, 2018
Jared Leto's #Joker getting his own movie… pic.twitter.com/MfRrWW1Zjs
— Film Junkee (@DaveePena) June 6, 2018
Why are we getting a Leto #Joker movie? Ego has a lot to do with it, Leto went in swinging his Oscar dick and saying “what about me?” pic.twitter.com/zCnVJyiwy7
— KC Walsh (@TheComixKid) June 6, 2018
I can’t emphasize how much a #Joker stand alone film with Jared Leto is such a bad idea. Suicide Squad was such a mess and Jared Leto did not show the complexity at all. All he did was “hur dur I’m psycho, like me because I’m crazy”
The joker is so complex to the point he’s sane
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔅𝔬𝔫 𝔅𝔬𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔲𝔦𝔱 (@BonBonInTheSuit) June 6, 2018
Source: Variety
