David Ayer met critics halfway by expressing certain regrets involving the design of Jared Leto’s Joker inSuicide Squad, even if he believes the public backlash involving the character and the overall film is misplaced due to mass studio interference, involving rewrites and re-shoots for the theatrical release that “ripped to pieces” Leto’s Joker performance.The mainstream audience, outside the hardcore fan base, has unilaterally written Leto’s Joker off. EvenJoker voice actor Troy Baker criticized Leto, saying, “Jared Leto was not a good Joker.” After all the years of criticism of a film remade behind the director’s back, Ayer opened up in acknowledging regrets surrounding Leto’s Joker design forSuicide Squad.RELATED:Jared Leto Reflects On Playing Joker In Zack Snyder’s Justice LeagueOn Twitter, Ayer explains the meaning behind the ‘damaged’ tattoo, saying that it was done because Batman knocked Joker’s teeth out after he murdered Robin, hence the grills, and that the tattoo is Joker’s attempt to troll Batman. “It’s the one aesthetic choice I wish I hadn’t made. Caught a lot of smoke for it, obviously.” Perhaps, audiences would have been keener to the design had the canonical reasons behind it been shown in the movies rather than Ayer having to explain on social media. Even so, according to Zack Snyder, those reasons for the tattoo would have been explored in aJustice League 2flashback of Robin’s death, as told by Joker in a scene described as “the last supper” during a heart-to-heart between Batman and Joker.
Leto’s Joker did not feature the ‘damaged’ tattoo inZack Snyder’s Justice League. This was because it was Bruce’s vision of the soon-to-comeJustice League 2Knightmare timeline, but also because Batman and Joker were teaming up, and as Snyder had put it, it was “water under the bridge.” If the ‘damaged’ tattoo had not been there in the first place, it would not have been as strong from a narrative standpoint because of this.
Ifthe Ayer Cut ofSuicide Squadone-day releases with the possibility of seeingJustice League 2, assuming Warner Bros. Discovery is interested in leasing it to a 3rd party or producing it themselves under the DC Elseworlds label, then Joker’s design choice may still click for general audiences that are open to various adaptations of the character. Luckily, Ayer has said he’s spoken to DC Studios CEO James Gunn, assuring fans that “good things are coming” regarding his cut ofSuicide Squad.
