Jared Leto on Following Heath Ledger's Legacy as The Joker
The Joker is one of the most iconic villains of all time, and on the big screen has been played by some of the greats. So to say Jared Leto would have been feeling a little pressure would be an understatement.
"Heath did an impeccable, perfect performance as the Joker," Leto said in a chat with Rolling Stone "It's one of the best performances ever in cinema. I had met Heath before. I didn't know him well, but he was a beautiful person.
"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 says. "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's method acting has been well documented, and the actor said that he had watched hours and hours of violent crimes on YouTube.
"The Joker is incredibly comfortable with acts of violence. I was watching real violence, consuming that. 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. 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 opens August 5.
Source: Comicbook
