Jared Leto tried to kill 'Joker' after Joaquin Phoenix was cast in the movie, may never get to play iconic character again
If actor Jared Leto had had his way, we probably wouldn't have got to witness Warner Bros' latest superhit film 'Joker' starring the superb Joaquin Phoenix. Leto, 47, who played the clown prince of crime in 2006's 'Suicide Squad' wasn't very pleased when he found out that Warner Bros would be going ahead with director Todd Phillips' standalone film based on the character with Joaquin Phoenix as the lead.
The actor was reportedly so jealous that he began complaining about it to his agents at CAA, which also happens to represent Todd. He not only complained to his agents but also reportedly asked his music manager, Irvin Azoff, to reach out to the boss of Warner Bros' and get them to scrap the film, as reported by Hollywood Reporter.
Sources close to the actor have denied the reports. It was previously reported by the same media house that Leto felt that he was "strung" along with promises of a stand-alone Joker film with him in the lead role, so he didn't take it kindly when Warner Bros decided to go ahead with Todd's 'Joker' starring Phoenix. Warner Bros, at their end, felt that the movie was a small project owing to its "dark tone", and did not allot much budget to it. Despite the low budget, Todd went ahead with the film, which now has managed to become a smashing success.
Sources have also revealed that Leto might never reprise the role of the iconic villain again. Warner Bros will be making two more movies based on the DC comics - 'Birds of Prey', a spinoff based on Harley Quinn, and James Gunn's 'The Suicide Squad', which are due in 2021.
A source told Hollywood Reporter the following about Jared Leto's hopes of playing Joker in future, "How do you play the Joker you established following [Phoenix]? It kind of ends his Joker run.”