Just when you thought he was out, they pull him back in. Jared Leto is returning to the DC movie universe as the Joker once again–and it’s not for The Suicide Squad. Instead, Leto will evidently appear in the upcoming Zack Snyder’s Justice League, which will premiere on HBO Max in 2021.
The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter. Leto will reportedly be filming new scenes for Snyder’s cut of the Justice League movie. According to THR, filming of the new scenes is currently underway with other DC movie actors Ben Affleck (Batman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), and Amber Heard (Mera) involved, among a long list of others.
This development comes a year after reports surfaced that Leto was unhappy Warner Bros. made a standalone Joker film with Joaquin Phoenix in the role. As previously mentioned, he also hasn’t been announced as appearing in James Gunn’s upcoming Suicide Squad sequel, while the Birds of Prey movie revealed that he and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) were no longer together.
For those who somehow remember the plot details of 2016’s Suicide Squad, this won’t be the first time Leto’s Joker and Affleck’s Batman appear in the same film. There are a few scenes of the two together in Suicide Squad, though chances are it’s actually Affleck’s stunt double donning the cape and cowl for those moments.
Given that Matt Reeves’ upcoming film The Batman is going a different route and star for the Caped Crusader, chances are the Snyder Cut will be the last time we’ll see this particular duo on-screen together. Unless they also throw Leto into The Flash, which will Affleck play the Dark Knight once again, along with Michael Keaton returning as Batman from the 1989 film.
Yes, the DC movie universe is confusing. Multiverses often are. Zack Snyder’s Justice League hits HBO Max next year.
