One of the more ridiculous theories surrounding the upcoming DCEU is that Jared Leto isn't actually portraying the Joker at all. Instead, he's playing Jason Todd, the second Robin who was killed by the Joker in the comics. The basis for this comes from the brief glimpses of Joker graffiti on a Robin suit in the Batman v. Superman trailer. The theory is that rather than being killed by the Joker, Jason Todd was actually so twisted by torture that he ended up killing and then becoming the Joker. Another piece of "evidence" touted for this rumor is the J on Leto's face - it also matches the J brand the Joker gave Jason Todd in the Arkham Knight video game. The logic for this is that it's similar to the backstory used in the direct-to-video Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker where Tim Drake was imprinted with the Joker's DNA. Something like that feels like far too much backstory needed to pass on to casual viewers who may not even know who Jason Todd is.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
