Jared Leto “Dove Deep” for His “Twisted but…Lovable Joker”

Clay Enos/ TM & (c) DC Comics

Jared Leto tells ABC’s Good Morning America that he “dove pretty deep” to find his Joker in the upcoming movie Suicide Squad

It has already been reported that Leto refused to break character during the film, and sent his co-stars icky gifts like a dead pig, courtesy of “The Crown Prince of Crime.”

Leto’s process, while seemingly strange, was his way of paying tribute to what he calls “the role of a lifetime,” he explained.

The result is, “a sick, twisted, but I think very loveable Joker,” said the Oscar-winning actor.  “This character has been written about, acted, interpreted, reinterpreted, re-imagined for 75 years. So to be asked to take the baton and run with it was quite an honor and a responsibility.” 

A lot of work also went into “Mr. J’s” chilling laugh. Each actor who’s played the role has put his own spin on it, and Leto was no different.

“I remember walking the streets of New York, and in Toronto where we were shooting and I would just laugh out and see how people would react to it. And when I started honing in on this laugh, I realized it was the one where people would turn around and be like, “What the hell is that?!”

Suicide Squad, which also stars Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, and Will Smith, opens August 5.

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.