After a not-so-loved debut in Suicide Squad (2016), Jared Leto is returning as the Clown Prince of Crime. The Hollywood Reporter is exclusively reporting that Jared Leto is set to reprise his role as the Joker in Zack Synder’s Justice League cut.
Just this past May, during an online screening of Man of Steel (2013), director Zack Synder announced that- yes, the “Synder Cut” would indeed be completed. The majority of DCEU fans were not pleased with the result of Justice League (2017) and the online petitions began. A number of fans were clamoring for Synder’s director’s cut soon labeled as “the Synder Cut”. Joss Whedon (director of Marvel’s Avengers) was hired to bring Zack Synder’s vision to life when Synder had to step away from the film due to the loss of his daughter.
This is somewhat shocking news because not only was the “Synder Cut” never believed to be completed, but even much less so the inclusion of Jared Leto’s Joker. Leto’s Joker originally did not appear in 2017’s Justice League. So this is a move that was totally not expected. Fans even believed that he would not even appear in the original due to the negative reactions his portrayal received in Suicide Squad.
There is quite a bit to unpack here however. It was previously believed that Jared Leto was on chummy waters with Warner Bros, at least with the DC Comics film department. Jared Leto once stated that a majority of his scenes as the Joker ended up on the cutting room floor. Rumors then circulated the internet that the director of Suicide Squad wasn’t at all pleased with Leto’s performance; so much so that he cut down Joker’s involvement in the film a great ordeal. Of course Leto wasn’t happy with this–after all he was on press junkets and interviews stating that the Joker had a major role in the film.
Following the fan reaction and Warner Bros’ decision to have Joaquin Phoenix portray a new version of the Joker in Joker (2019), Jared Leto grew a bit angrier than he already was. The Hollywood Reporter reported a year ago that Leto was “fumed” over the fact that Warner Bros. was giving someone else their own Joker solo film. These reports went onto state that Leto felt betrayed and wasn’t all too happy that he was essentially being cast aside.
Are all surprises worth waiting for? Well, I think it all depends on what you thought of Jared Leto’s Joker in his debut film. To be perfectly clear, the Hollywood Reporter is reporting a “scoop”. More times than not, their sources tend to be correct. Just keep that in mind. However, if their scoop turns out to be factual, I think we’ll be in for a treat. Whether you loved or hated Leto’s portrayal of the iconic clown, one can’t help but admire his dedication to the role. He went as far as sending Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie a live rat to her trailer while on set.
The “Synder Cut” or now, Zack Synder’s Justice League is looking to be released next year on HBO Max with four different chapters.