There's no question that Suicide Squad has become one of the most divisive superhero movies ever to grace the silver screen, and few elements from the film divided fans more than Jared Leto's Joker. From the flamboyant attire, to the metal teeth, and even the excessive tattoos, the DCEU's Joker was unlike anything fans had ever seen before. However, new concept art from the film has just surfaced online which suggests that the character almost looked considerably different. Take a look for yourself.
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Several concepts for Jared Leto's Joker have surfaced on Imgur, and they seem to shed quite a bit of light onto the development of the character. As you can definitely see from the above photo, an early design for the Clown Prince of Crime initially featured far more tattoos than the final version. If you ask me, it definitely turns the creepiness factor up a few notches.
Personally I actually like this concept because the tattoos seem far rougher and more homemade than the theatrical version. They look messier than the "Damaged" or Robin tattoos shown in the final version of the character, and that lends a sense that Joker could've given these to himself in an Arkham Asylum cell. It really combines the best elements of Red Dragon's Francis Dolarhyde and Memento's Leonard Shelby. Of course, I understand that the tattoos were generally a point of contention among many fans, so I could definitely be in the minority here.
The tattoos weren't the only aspect of the character that initially looked different. Another photo suggests that Jared Leto's Joker would've originally worn much flashier suits, and featured less facial tattoos. Check out that photo below:
Now that we have seen these concepts for Jared Leto's Joker, we have begun to wonder how the character will evolve as the DCEU moves forward. Leto's performance has generally been regarded as a disappointment among Bat fans, and as such it leaves the door open for some major changes in the future. Will DC pull back on Joker's involvement in this universe, or will they double down on the craziness when Ben Affleck's Batman movie premieres? We will have to wait and see how this pans out.
What are your opinions on the original concept for Jared Leto's Joker? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below! The Suicide Squad Extended Cut is currently available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD; make sure to check it out!
