By now, we’ve all heard so many stories/jokes/informational anecdotes regarding Jared Leto’s upcoming appearance as The Joker in Suicide Squad that it almost feels like we don’t even need to watch him do his thing when the movie actually comes out. And given that the release date is still a solid six weeks away, we should probably all batten down the hatches for a torrent of even more material on the Oscar-winning actor taking on one of the movies’ most iconic characters.
This brings us to Deadline, which published an interview with Leto that touched on a number of topics, with The Joker, of course, being near the top of the list. Leto, who follows no less than Jack Nicholson and the late Heath Ledger, whose Oscar-winning performance in 2008’s The Dark Knight was not only the best Joker there’s ever been (sorry, Cesar Romero) but among the best on-screen villains of all-time, recognizes the history and legacy behind the character and showed an appropriate amount of modesty in doing so.
“Aww, it was a role of a lifetime. Really, it was an incredible honor to be asked to play the part. Look, there have been so many incredible performances of the Joker over the years. Then there’s the wonderful artists that have drawn this character and the writers that have written the Joker for 75 years and more through television and film and animated projects. I found it a real honor to be asked to continue the tradition. I’m so grateful that I had the chance, that’s my honest answer and my thoughts on it.”
Leto, who also fronts the documentary short series Beyond the Horizon for AOL and, of course, is a member of the band 30 Seconds To Mars, will finally bring his take on the green-haired maniac to theaters when Suicide Squad opens on August 5.
(via Deadline)
