When David Ayer’s Suicide Squad hit theaters in 2016, the marketing was basically screaming one name at us. The Joker. It felt like he was everywhere. But if you actually watched the movie, you noticed something weird pretty quickly. He isn’t the main villain. He’s barely in it. Yet, the question of who plays the joker on suicide squad became one of the most debated topics in superhero movie history.
That person is Jared Leto.
Leto wasn’t just "playing" a role; he was trying to reinvent an icon. Following Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight was always going to be a suicide mission—pun intended. Ledger’s Joker was a grounded, chaotic anarchist. Leto went the other way. He gave us a tatted-up, chrome-grilled, neon-haired mobster who looked like he spent way too much time in a high-end Vegas nightclub.
It was polarizing. Some people loved the "modern gangster" aesthetic. Others? Well, they’re still complaining about the "Damaged" tattoo on his forehead. Honestly, the behind-the-scenes stories are almost more famous than the actual movie.
The Method Behind the Madness
Jared Leto is a known method actor. This isn't just someone who learns their lines and goes home to watch Netflix. For Suicide Squad, he stayed in character 24/7. It got weird.
Cast members like Margot Robbie (who played Harley Quinn) and Will Smith (Deadshot) told stories about Leto sending them "gifts." We’re talking about things like live rats, bullets, and even used condoms. Viola Davis, who played the formidable Amanda Waller, mentioned a henchman dropping a dead pig on the table during rehearsals.
Why do this? Leto wanted to create a dynamic where the other actors were genuinely uncomfortable around him. He wanted that unpredictability to bleed into the camera work.
The problem is, a lot of that intensity didn't actually make it to the big screen. When the movie finally dropped, fans were confused. After months of hearing about Leto’s terrifying dedication, he only had about 10 to 15 minutes of total screen time. It’s hard to build a legendary performance when you’re basically a glorified cameo.
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What happened to the Ayer Cut?
There’s a massive elephant in the room when talking about who plays the joker on suicide squad. That elephant is the editing room.
David Ayer, the director, has been very vocal over the last few years. He’s insisted that his original version of the movie was a dark, soulful drama. He says the studio (Warner Bros.) got scared after Batman v Superman was criticized for being too gloomy. They reportedly brought in a company that makes movie trailers to help "re-edit" the film into something more like Guardians of the Galaxy.
In that shuffle, a ton of Jared Leto’s Joker footage was left on the cutting room floor.
Ayer has shared photos of Leto looking much more menacing than he did in the final theatrical version. There were scenes of Joker making a deal with Enchantress. There were more domestic, albeit abusive, scenes between him and Harley. Fans have spent years campaigning for the "Ayer Cut" to see what Leto actually did with the role.
Comparing Leto to the Joker Lineup
To understand Leto’s performance, you have to look at the context of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Most people think of the Joker as Batman’s shadow. But in Suicide Squad, the Joker is more of a background motivator. He’s the reason Harley Quinn is the way she is. His goal isn't to burn Gotham down; it’s just to get his girl back.
- Jack Nicholson: The classic, theatrical prankster.
- Heath Ledger: The philosophical terrorist.
- Joaquin Phoenix: The tragic, mentally ill social outcast.
- Jared Leto: The narcissistic, flamboyant crime lord.
Leto’s Joker felt like he belonged in a world where superheroes were celebrities. He wore purple crocodile skin trench coats. He drove an Infiniti G35 with a custom Vaydor body kit that glowed with pink lights. It was a very specific choice. It was also a choice that didn't necessarily age well for a lot of the hardcore comic book crowd who prefer the more "traditional" look.
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The 2021 Redemption: Zack Snyder’s Justice League
If you only saw Suicide Squad, you might think Leto was done with the character. But something interesting happened in 2021.
Zack Snyder was finishing his four-hour cut of Justice League. He decided he wanted one more scene. He called Leto. This version of the Joker was completely different. Gone were the forehead tattoos and the shiny jewelry. Instead, we got a long-haired, haggard Joker in a post-apocalyptic world.
He and Ben Affleck’s Batman finally had a face-to-face conversation.
That six-minute scene did more for Leto’s reputation as the Joker than the entire Suicide Squad movie did. It showed he could do "creepy" and "menacing" without all the flashy gimmicks. It was a stripped-back, haunting performance that left fans wondering what could have been if the 2016 movie hadn't been so heavily edited.
Why the Performance Still Matters
People still talk about who plays the joker on suicide squad because it represents a specific era of cinema. It was the peak of the "shared universe" craze.
It’s also a lesson in how much a performance relies on the director and the editor. You can have an Oscar-winning actor like Jared Leto give 100% effort, but if the story doesn't support the character, it feels hollow.
Leto’s Joker was the first time we saw a "pimp" version of the character. It drew heavily from certain 1990s comic runs, specifically Joker by Brian Azzarello. If you look at that graphic novel, you see exactly where the inspiration for the tattoos and the business-mogul vibe came from. It wasn't just made up out of thin air.
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Moving Forward: The Future of the Clown Prince
Since Suicide Squad, the DC movie landscape has changed completely. James Gunn took over the franchise. Joaquin Phoenix got a sequel. Barry Keoghan showed up for a minute in The Batman.
It’s highly unlikely we’ll see Jared Leto put on the white makeup again. He’s moved on to other things, like Morbius (which is a whole other story) and his music with Thirty Seconds to Mars.
But for a brief window in the mid-2010s, he was the face of DC's most famous villain. Whether you loved the "damaged" vibe or hated it, you can't deny that he took a big swing. Most actors would be too intimidated to play the Joker after Ledger. Leto didn't just try to copy him; he tried to do something entirely new.
How to Re-evaluate the Suicide Squad Joker
If you’re planning on revisiting the film, keep these things in mind to get the most out of it:
- Watch the Extended Cut: It doesn't fix everything, but it adds a few more layers to the Joker/Harley relationship.
- Look at the Details: The costume design is actually incredible. Each tattoo on Leto’s body tells a story about a past encounter with Batman (like the bird with a dynamic through its neck representing Robin).
- Check out the Justice League Knightmare Scene: If you hated him in 2016, this might change your mind. It’s a totally different energy.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: The Joker’s themes in the movie are actually some of the most cohesive parts of his characterization.
The legacy of who plays the joker on suicide squad is one of missed potential and bold choices. Jared Leto gave us a version of the character that reflected the glitz and grime of modern celebrity culture. It was loud, it was obnoxious, and it was undeniably memorable. Even if it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, it remains a fascinating chapter in the history of comic book movies.
If you want to dive deeper into the lore, your next move should be looking into the Brian Azzarello Joker graphic novel. Seeing the source material makes Leto’s choices make way more sense. You might also want to track down the various "Ayer Cut" leaks on social media to see the dozens of photos showing the darker version of the Joker that we never got to see in theaters.
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