Joker cast: Jared Leto ‘alienated’ by Joaquin Phoenix's Joker

Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, follows a failing stand-up comedian struggling to make his way in the world. Phoenix’s Joker has received praise from critics and fans alike. However, a former Joker has allegedly taken issue with the new film.

Jared Leto is known for becoming incredibly method to play his roles.

In Suicide Squad, he played The Joker, with green hair, gold fronts on his teeth in crazy make-up.

For this, Leto went so deep into the role that he got a little method, reportedly sending a dead pig to a table read and giving his co-star, Margot Robbie, a live rat as a gift (the pair were playing lovers Joker and Harley Quinn.)

However, for the Joker origin story, the studio went with Phoenix, and it has now been revealed that, allegedly, Leto was “alienated and upset” when he heard the news.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leto felt “alienated and upset” when former Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara and Toby Emmerich greenly Joker.

At the time of the announcement, Leto told Cinemablend: “I’m a little confused too, so, there are a couple of things happening in the DC world… 

“It’s a big universe and, you know, when you play the Joker, there’s no ownership there. 

“You know you just have the honour of holding the baton for a little while and then passing it off. 

“But there are other films in development and I’m excited to see what comes from them.”

These other films included a new Suicide Squad film, a film revolving around Joker and Harley Quinn, and a standalone Joker film.

As is clear, the Joker film went to Phoenix and director Todd Phillips, while the Joker and Harley movie was dropped.

Instead, Harley Quinn has her own movie, Birds of Prey, which is expected to come to cinemas early next year.

Meanwhile, the recent announcement of the cast for The Suicide Squad conspicuously leaves Leto off the list, as well as Will Smith, who openly said he would not return to the franchise for this film.

Naturally, if it is, in fact, true about Leto’s sentiments on the Joker movie, it is fairly understandable given some of his projects with the DCEU seem to have fallen by the wayside.

However, a quick scroll through Leto’s Twitter shows he has other things going on, including more work with his brother Shannon in their band 30 Seconds To Mars.

He has also recently posted, since news of his reported upset were exposed, and has yet to make any reference to the comments.

It may be that any upset felt, if it was felt at all, is long gone since the movie has come out.

Phoenix is being tipped for an Oscar for his efforts as Arthur Fleck/Joker, so perhaps it seemed right to let someone else get a chance at an Academy Award.

Joker is so far doing incredibly well at the box office and with critics, having bagged a staggering $289.9million (£228.9million) worldwide.

Phoenix has even expressed an interest in potentially reprising his role, after previously discounting that.

Speaking to Popcorn with Peter Travers, he said: “I talked to Todd [Phillips] a lot about what else we might be able to do, in general, just working together, but also specifically, if there’s something else with Joker that might be interesting.”

When asked if there was more that could be done with the character, Phoenix answered plainly: “I don’t know that there is.”

Leto could have some hope at reprising the role for DC yet.

Joker is in cinemas now