Random Most Obnoxious Things Jared Leto Did When He Played Jok (12 items)

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  (#12) He Didn't Really Interact With His Co-Stars

  The Method: Isolating himself from the rest of the cast in order to remain enigmatically "in character."

  The Madness: It's not uncommon for method actors to want to remain in character for even when cameras aren't rolling, and that was reportedly the case with Leto. Just ask Will Smith: "I've never actually met Jared Leto. We worked together for six months and we've never exchanged a word outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!' I literally have not met him yet."

  But Maybe: Maybe if he's the kind of guy who thinks it's hilarious to send his co-workers rodents and prophylactics, it's for the best that he keeps his distance. With friends like those, who needs arch-enemies?
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  (#8) He Used An Adolescent Anatomical Analogy To Describe His 'Creative Process'

  The Method: Asked about his process, Leto said, "There was definitely a period of... detachment. I took a pretty deep dive. But this was a unique opportunity and I couldn't imagine doing it another way. It was fun, playing those psychological games. But at the same time it was very painful, like giving birth out of my pr*ck hole."

  The Madness: Can't really blame the Joker for this one. Leto is just obnoxious. Who even says "pr*ck hole"?

  But Maybe: Leto's antics clearly got the attention the actor was looking for, but it wound up turning many audiences against him, meaning for once people actually disliked the Joker instead of tacitly cheering him on.
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  (#10) He Spoke In The Joker's Voice During Concerts

  The Method: Leto spoke in a "Joker-voice" during 30 Seconds to Mars shows, which is sort of annoying for reasons that are hard to pinpoint.

  The Madness: Somehow, he managed to double down on whatever it is that makes that annoying, explaining in an interview: "To the Joker, violence is a symphony. This is someone who gets an extreme reward from the act of violence and manipulation. Those are the songs he sings and he is very in tune with what makes people tick."

  But Maybe: As a musician, this could just be how Leto understands every character, contextualizing them through the prism music.
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  (#4) He Mailed Margot Robbie A Live Rat

  The Method: Leto had a rat delivered to Harley Quinn actress Margot Robbie. 

  The Madness: Any fan knows the Joker and Harley's relationship is messed up, but does any actress deserve to have her more highly paid male co-stars sending her rodents?

  But Maybe: These two characters are twisted, with Quinn torn between abject worship and justified disgust. Opening a package with a rat inside might just help convey the gruesome, contradictory push and pull between Mr. J and Miss Q.
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  (#9) He Got Into Character By Consulting With Shamans

  The Method: Because he viewed his take on the DC character as something of an enlightened one from another plane of existence, Leto talked to holy men and shamans to prepare for the role.

  The Madness: This approach has a whiff of a certain immature romanticization of mental illness.

  But Maybe: What? At least it was a whole different take, one that's definitely not what Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, or Cesar Romero did with the role.

   
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  (#7) He Insisted On Being Called 'Mr. J'

  The Method: According to producer Charles Roven, Leto made all the assistant directors on set call him "Mr. J."

  The Madness: Giving yourself a nickname is an annoying thing to do even if you aren't in 30 Seconds to Mars.

  But Maybe: Maybe this was constant reminder that kept Leto's brain in the game to give audiences a memorable Joker. And maybe the use of Harley Quinn's nickname for Joker on Batman: The Animated Series simply signals the influence of Mark Hamill's beloved take on the character.

   

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