Suicide Squad: Jared Leto met psychopaths to understand Joker better
The 44-year-old actor pulled out all the stops to ensure his version of the character was suitably complex, reported Female First.
Jared Leto really, really wants you to like him as Joker. The actor is trying everything there is in the book and everything that isn’t to prepare for his role as the villain in upcoming superhero movie Suicide Squad. He has now revealed that he spent time with psychopaths as well as doctors and psychiatrists for it.
The 44-year-old actor pulled out all the stops to ensure his version of the character was suitably complex, reported Female First.
Talking about his research, he said, “(I met) people that were experts, doctors, psychiatrists that dealt with psychopaths and people who had committed horrendous crimes ... I spent some time with those people themselves, people who have been institutionalised.”
Read: I was terrified of Jared Leto, thinking ‘is he crazy?’, says Viola Davis
Leto remained in character throughout the filming process and was determined his version of the Joker would go in a “different direction” to that of the late Heath Ledger’s portrayal in 2008 motion picture The Dark Knight, and Jack Nicholson’s version in 1989’s Batman.
“There had been such great work that we knew we had to go in a different direction,” the actor said.
Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis and Jai Courtney are also set to star in the movie.