Why DC Just Cancelled Jared Leto's Joker Movies

5. Leto's Joker Wasn't Well Received

Even before Suicide Squad released, it was obvious that the film was going to be divisive. Sure, it had a deceptively great second trailer set to the tune of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, but it didn't distract fans from lingering on Leto's Joker.

A number of set photos and promotional shots had emerged months before any footage was shown, and there was an immediate furore surrounding the character's look. He looked less like a clowning supervillain, and more a gangster who decided to wear his personality literally on his sleeve. No one needs reminding of the "Damaged" tattoo emblazoned across his forehead in neat cursive font, or the mouth on his hand, or... anything, really.

Of course, issues with Leto's Joker stemmed far beyond just the aesthetic. His performance simply paled in comparison to those who came before, with Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill and Heath Ledger all turning in far more memorable turns as the Clown Prince than Leto, who didn't even have a decent laugh to fall back on.

There were obvious issues script-wise too, but given Leto's antics behind the scenes, it doesn't seem all that disingenuous to say that he just didn't understand the character. He reportedly sent all sorts of 'presents' to his co-stars, including a dead rat and even some condoms, to get into character.

Except... none of this has anything to do with the Joker whatsoever? Yes the Clown Prince clowns around on the regular, but Leto's on-set creepiness only laid the foundations for a thoroughly obnoxious depiction of Batman's greatest villain, and one WB were obviously eager to get away from, given how Joaquin Phoenix is now playing a version of his own.