Jared Leto watched real crimes on YouTube to get into character for Suicide Squad.
Jared Leto is the latest actor to play the iconic character, The Joker, in the upcoming Suicide Squad movie. But Leto has some very big shoes to fill. In fact, the last person to play The Joker, Heath Ledger, won an Academy Award.
In Rolling Stone’s latest issue, Jared Leto praised Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker as an “”impeccable, perfect performance”. In addition, Leto explained that he wasn’t sure if he could do it.
It’s one of the best performances ever in cinema,” he told the magazine of Ledger. “I had met Heath before. I didn’t know him well, but he was a beautiful person.”
Leto added, “I think had it only been portrayed by Heath and it was never a comic book, maybe I would have felt that would be inappropriate,” Leto said. “But I thought that given the history, it was OK. The good thing about other people having done this is that you know what direction not to head in.”
Leto also explained he watched real crimes on YouTube in order to get into character. “The Joker is incredibly comfortable with acts of violence,” he said. “There’s a lot you can learn from seeing it. Not every act of violence is committed with frenzy, either. I remember learning that. People can be calm.”
He continued to explain: “They’ve made their choice and go and do something, and it’s not in a frenzy. It’s methodical and sometimes even hypnotic and deliberate.”
Suicide Squad hits theaters on August 5th.
Via Rolling Stone
Related:
- ‘Suicide Squad’ Cast Had to Go to Group Therapy Sessions
- ‘Suicide Squad’s Director Used “Manipulation” Tactics on His Cast
-
‘Suicide Squad’ is the Most Talked About Movie on Social Media
What do you think? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.
