With filming for the two DC movies “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad” already completed, the astute movie observers are now dissecting the plotlines and the characters for the upcoming films based on DC comics.
“Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” will hit theaters on March 25, 2016, while “Suicide Squad” has a playdate on global cinemas on August 5, 2016.
The first film is expected to become the first blockbuster of 2016 and it would be interesting to see if the DC superhero movie has what it takes to go up against the Marvel superhero movies, which have been making a whole lot of money in the box-office for the last couple of years.
One of the most anticipated and very juicy character portrayal being awaited in the two movies is the role of The Joker by Oscar-winning actor and musician Jared Leto. The method actor has been drawing praises for his take on the Clown Prince of Crime that some of the cast members of “Suicide Squad” got scared of him as he seemed to have taken his character to a whole new dimension, notes the International Business Times of India.
Jared Leto’s The Joker character will have a cameo appearance in “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” based on the full-length trailer of the movie shown during the ComicCon 2015 in July at San Diego, California.
The joke’s on Batman
Based on the trailer, Jared Leto’s The Joker will play a significant role in the back story of the Caped Crusader in “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” as it would seem that he will tease Batman for the death of Robin.
The Joker’s presence in the movie was really felt especially when the costume of Robin was shown with the handwritten graffiti that states ‘Joke’s on you, Batman. Haha’ hinting that the Clown of Prince of Crime was responsible for the death of the Boy Wonder.
Jared Leto pretty much confirmed that his The Joker character would have a cameo appearance in “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” when he posted last month a photo on his Instagram account alluding to the exact scene in the comic book titled “Batman: The Killing Joke” where the villain played a brutal menace.
In the “Batman: The Killing Joke” comic, The Joker shot Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Commissioner Jim Gordon, and was stripped naked even as he took pictures of her while suffering and bleeding. He then sent it to Commissioner Gordon whom he kidnapped later.
The 1988 graphic novel was written by Alan Moore and was both lauded and criticized because of the brutal and sexual components incorporated in the story. The comic novel has ultimately showcased the brutal side of the Clown Prince of Crime.
It can be recalled that there have been previous reports that Commissioner Jim Gordon of the Gotham City Police department will already be dead at the movie. So his appearance in the film, just like that of Robin, will be primarily based on flashbacks, by Bruce Wayne or Batman most likely. The role of Robin has been reported to be played by Eli Snyder, the teenage son of Director Zack Snyder, who is directing the film.
Dissecting The Joker character
But there are now very interesting rumors going around that Jared Leto’s The Joker character was not actually the original The Joker but that of the second Robin character who have turned to the dark side, according to News.com.au.
Based on the Batman comics, the second Robin’s alter ego is Jason Todd, who replaced Dick Grayson, the original Robin after he got too old to be a teen sidekick of Batman.
Jason Todd as Robin was more mercurial than Dick so he was more prone to pranks and getting himself into trouble. It was him who was eventually captured and tortured by the original The Joker and suffered mental breakdown from there.