Suicide Squad director David Ayer shared a never-before-seen look at Jared Leto's Joker. Between Suicide Squad and Zack Snyder's Justice League, Leto's Joker has seen various design choices that mixed comic accuracy and experimental. However, there were even more fashion choices that audiences hadn’t seen until now.
The Suicide Squad director continues his fight for his true version of the film that is distinct from the theatrical cut released. According to Ayer, Suicide Squad was reworked in the image of Deadpool to reflect a lighter tone, amounting to various re-shoots and restructuring in its post-production stages, not unlike what transpired with the theatrical cut of Justice League under the previous Warner Bros. Regime.
Ayer posted a new image of Leto's Joker on Twitter with the caption “experiments” from a costume fitting. The suit aligns with this adaptation of the character as an anarchist and eccentric mobster inspired by modern-day aesthetics, such as the controversial face tattoos and teeth grill. Ayer said, ”Joker killed Robin and Batman smashes his teeth out and locks him up in Arkham Asylum. Also, Joker would have done the ‘damaged’ tattoo as a message to Batman saying, ‘You’ve damaged me. I was so beautiful before, and now you’ve destroyed my face.” Joker from Zack Snyder's Justice League had the tattoos covered up because, according to Snyder, "there's been some water under the bridge.” Snyder even states that he would’ve included “Joker telling the story of the death of Robin" in Justice League part 2, possibly in a flashback sequence that shows Joker in the classic design and purple suit.
One Twitter user reacted to Ayer's new Joker photo by saying there were glad his take on the character didn't go anywhere. In response to the disgruntled Twitter user, Ayer said, “The New 52” Court of Owls Batman run inspired some of the design choices. This can be seen in the Joker's hairstyle and black suit, which parallels Batman Endgame Volume 7, and the white tuxedo featured in the car chase sequence inspired by Joker's attire in The Dark Knight Returns.
Ayer has been vocal about his intended depiction of the Joker before. Ayer previously said, “Jared was pretty mistreated” and “no one has seen his performance. It was ripped out of the movie.” Ayer also stated that the Suicide Squad teaser trailer aligned with the original vision, and the Joker reveal was one of many re-shoots that aren't seen in the theatrical cut. As a result of WB's reluctance to release his version of the film, Ayer continues to share photos of Leto's Joker in Suicide Squad that spark further debate on the director’s intentions.
Ayer brought the villain back to pale white skin after Heath Ledger's departure, but fans seem more upset at the execution than the intent behind it, and understandably so. However, fans may want to put their pitchforks down or, at the very least, refocus that energy towards WB by campaigning for the Ayer Cut until, if and when, Leto's true Joker performance is seen.
Suicide Squad is available on HBO Max.
Source: David Ayer/Twitter