Jared Leto preps for Suicide Squad’s Joker role with unorthodox research

Jared Leto’s preparation for his role as the Joker in Suicide Squad is fast becoming the stuff of legends.

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As the Suicide Squad premiere date looms near, the stories surrounding Jared Leto’s epic method acting keep getting more bizarre. From rats to used condoms, and now to his “research” methods, Leto’s Joker promises to be unique if nothing else.

Rolling Stone recently did a profile on Leto, who took his role so seriously that he insisted that his Suicide Squad costars called him Joker during the shoot. The stories about Leto sending a live rat to Margot Robbie started circulating early on, as have the stories about his gifts of used condoms sent as gifts. (The meaning of “used” has been debated, whether that means open or, in fact, used) But it was the research he did for the role that really sets him apart.

Leto’s research for the role included watching real acts of violence on YouTube to gain an understanding of the headspace people are in when they commit violent crimes.

“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,” Leto said.

Leto has always been known for his intensity. He admits to taking drugs in high school so frequently that it went beyond recreational and was on par with a sport. His drug days are over now, unless, as he says, he’s at Burning Man, in which case all bets are off. Given his fast lifestyle, there was a point when Leto expected that he’d die young, which may have helped him relate to the Joker, who always lives on the edge. Now that’s he’s older, Leto sees things differently.

“It’s a pretty common thought, especially for any maniacal narcissist. And if you live a life with some risk, or have seen people die young, it’s easier to understand that it could be a possibility,” Leto said.

If nothing else, Leto’s Joker will be something unlike anything the superhero world has ever seen before.

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