Jared Leto on Returning as Joker in JUSTICE LEAGUE and He Praises Zack Snyder
It was interesting to learn that Jared Leto would be reprising his role as Joker in some new footage that director Zack Snyder would be shooting for his upcoming cut of Justice League. It’s something a lot of fans weren’t expecting, but it certainly got fans more excited about seeing the movie.
Some photos have been shared of Leto’s Joker in the film, and as you’ve seen, he’s sporting a much different look. Fans tend to like this new look of the character a lot more than the one he was sporting in Suicide Squad. Joker appears alongside Ben Affleck's Batman and Joe Manganiello's Deathstroke in the film and it takes place in Bruce Wayne's "Knightmare" vision of the future.
While talking to Entertainment Tonight, Leto opened up about reprising his role, keeping it a secret, and also praises Snyder, saying:
"It was a secret I had to keep for so long, it feels funny to even talk about it. [Snyder] knows that world like nobody else... He cares so deeply about the character. He cares so much about the fans. I was happy to be a part of his journey and retelling that story and telling it the way that he always dreamed of. And it was fun to dip my toe into the character again."
Snyder previously explained why he brought Leto back to the role of Joker, saying:
"[Adding the Joker] was a thing I had wanted to do. Because frankly, the ultimate conflict in a universe where Batman exists is for him to confront Joker. I was afraid that if this was the last Justice League with Ben [Affleck's Batman] and Jared, it would be remiss if I couldn't figure out a way for them to come into conflict. Also, it was a wish of mine to bring Joker into the continuing storyline. I hinted at it in Batman v Superman – when you see Batman's gun in the post-apocalyptic world, it has a Joker playing card taped to it. This has a little bit to do with that concept."
Snyder also previously offered some additional details about Joker's role in Justice League:
“The cool thing about the scene is that it's Joker talking directly to Batman about Batman. It's Joker analyzing Batman about who he is and what he is. That’s the thing I also felt like fans deserved from the DC Universe. That is to say, the Jared Leto Joker and the Ben Affleck Batman, they never really got together. It seemed uncool to me that we would make it all the way through this incarnation of Batman and Joker without seeing them come together.”
Zack Snyder's Justice League will debut on HBO Max on March 18th.