Jared Leto’s Joker DCU Return Chances Just Got Ruined

by

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I couldn’t help but chuckle during the debut of Peacemaker’s second season, as it seemed to take a playful jab at the speculated comeback of Jared Leto in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Back in 2016, when Jared Leto first donned the sinister clown suit as the DCEU’s Joker opposite Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer, the film was met with a chorus of mixed reviews.

The movie, much like Justice League, reportedly faced similar studio meddling, leading to the removal of several scenes featuring Leto’s Joker from the final cut. This omission sparked a modest yet persistent fan movement dubbed “Release the Ayer Cut.” Although we haven’t seen any signs of that happening, director Zack Snyder did manage to share his vision of Justice League on HBO Max in 2021, which included additional scenes of Leto’s Joker interacting with Ben Affleck’s Batman.

Despite all this, it appears the chances of seeing Leto reprise his role as the Joker anytime soon remain uncertain.

With the fresh start of the DCU led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, the Batman mythos hasn’t fully ignited yet; instead, that role seems reserved for the upcoming series “The Brave and the Bold“. This means fans are still on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating who will take on the next Joker character, a part that is believed to stand apart from Barry Keoghan’s portrayal of the Joker in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman“. After the premiere of “Superman“, the next stop for the DCU is season 2 of “Peacemaker“, where the Joker has yet to appear, but it did introduce one villain from Batman’s rogue gallery in the DC comics.

It is known that Jared Leto not only acts but has also led rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars since 1998. The second season of ‘Peacemaker’ hurled criticisms at his band, which may indicate he won’t replay his character from ‘Suicide Squad’ in James Gunn’s DC Universe.

As a dedicated cinephile, I find myself reflecting on the intriguing dynamic between John Cena’s character Peacemaker and Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt. During one of their encounters, it became evident that Emilia, a former ARGUS agent, is not exactly on friendly terms with Thirty Seconds to Mars. On the flip side, Peacemaker, the anti-hero, wasn’t shy about dishing out his own barbs in response.

The last time I was in that car, it was blasting music from The Spin Doctors or Thirty Seconds to Mars, or something similar. I was tempted to give it a stern lecture, but seeing the two of you getting along, it seems the car and I might have a mutual understanding after all.

HARCOURT: “I am not on good terms with Thirty Seconds to Mars. How dare you?”

In Episode 1 titled “The Ties That Grind,” it wasn’t just a matter of letting go with gunfire at Leto, as a humorous post-credits scene further intensified the disrespect. In this scene, Peacemaker made a witty remark by saying, “Anyone is better than 30 Seconds to Mars.

It doesn’t seem right to group Spin Doctors with Thirty Seconds to Mars. I think the Spin Doctors are particularly impressive.

Definitely, it’s a relief that anyone else is around compared to Thirty Seconds to Mars. My brief stint in our garage band makes me feel like we outshine them.

It’s clear that the recent release of “Peacemaker” has solidified the presence of Thirty Seconds to Mars and Jared Leto within the DC Universe. Moreover, it can be seen as a strong rebuke from James Gunn, who penned all eight episodes of the new season, towards the actor who portrayed the Joker.

In casual terms, it seems that previous remarks by the DC Studios co-CEO suggest he doesn’t have a favorable opinion towards the actor who played the Joker in the DCEU. Given this history, it’s unlikely that the same actor will portray the Joker again in future projects.

In May 2018, approximately a year following the release of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and only a few months prior to his temporary dismissal from Marvel Studios due to old problematic tweets, James Gunn made a playful comment about Jared Leto on Twitter, using Reddit as a platform for his post.

Find out more about James Gunn’s short-lived Guardians of the Galaxy firing.

To begin with, actor Dylan Sprouse, who gained fame from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, accused Leto of sending messages to every model aged between 18 and 25 on social media. In response to this claim, Leto, now the head of DCU, seemingly defended himself by asking, “Does he start at 18 online?”, suggesting that Leto may have been accused of flirting with girls below the age of 18.

In a more casual and friendly tone, one could say: “Hey there, Jared Leto! After sending messages to all those young models between 18 and 25 on Instagram, have you managed to figure out how many responses you’ve gotten? What would you consider your level of success in that regard?

GUNN: “He starts at 18 on the internet?”

In October, you can catch Jared Leto reprising his role as he returns to the big screen in the movie titled “Tron: Ares.” Previously, he portrayed the Joker in 2016’s “Suicide Squad” and 2021’s “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Right now, fans of HBO Max can watch the latest episodes of “Peacemaker” Season 2, featuring Jabs from John Cena’s character Peacemaker and Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt, with new episodes airing each Thursday.

When Will Joker Join James Gunn’s DCU?

Fans may not get to see DCU’s Batman until “The Brave and the Bold,” which is currently being scripted and isn’t expected to release before 2028, at least a year after Matt Reeves has finished work on “The Batman Part 2,” scheduled for October 2027.

Although it might seem likely, moviegoers should not anticipate that the Joker will be the initial villain for the DCU’s new Batman. Given that this Batman is deep into his superhero tenure with a well-established Bat-Family, it’s safe to assume they have clashed before, and perhaps by now, the Joker may have even killed off Jason Todd.

Zach Cregger, director of Weapons, has confirmed that he penned a script for a DC film featuring both Joker and Harley Quinn. This movie would depart from traditional superhero narratives. The script is named Henchman, and it focuses on an ordinary pharmacist who unintentionally gets caught up with the DC villains, rather than the heroes themselves.

At present, there’s no indication that the script has been presented to DC Studios or discussed with James Gunn. However, given his rising prowess in horror, he could be an excellent fit for the DC Universe. In fact, considering the upcoming Batman spin-off “Clayface” scheduled for September 2026, it might not hurt to consider incorporating another horror director into the mix.

As a supporter, I believe that regardless of whether the DCU Joker makes his appearance in The Brave and the Bold, Henchman, or another DCU project, it’s highly unlikely that Jared Leto will be donning the chilling makeup again, especially following James Gunn’s recent remarks about him in Peacemaker. Instead, we fans should prepare ourselves for a fresh actor stepping into the role, alongside the new Batman actor who is soon to be cast.

Read More

2025-08-26 01:07