Jared Leto is a " method actor . " To better understand a character , he does everything in his power to become the grapheme . InChapter 27 , he earn 60lbs to play John Lennon ’s murderer , Mark David Chapman . For his Oscar - winning role inDallas Buyers Club , he lost 40lbs and shaved his integral eubstance to play an HIV - incontrovertible trans charwoman . To play a drug addict inRequiem for a Dream , Leto hung out with New York City addict and desist from sexuality , an peculiarly difficult chore for the frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars .

Leto transformed himself once again for this August’sBatman v Supermanspinoff , Suicide Squad . His engrossment into " The Joker " may be his most devoted body of work yet . written report from Will Smith , Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , and Leto ’s other co - star contingent a nightmarish experience full of pranks and near - psychopathy . For Leto , it was another day in the mental trenches . Here ’s exactly what decease down on the set ofSuicide Squad :

Leto avoided speaking to anyone out of character“I’ve never actually met Jared Leto , " Will Smith admitted onApple Beats 1 Radioin October . " We worked together for six months and we ’ve never exchanged a word of honor outside of ‘ natural process ! ’ and ‘ Cut ! ’ ”

suicide squad

Suicide Squad|Warner Bros. Pictures

His day - to - day behavior almost made Viola Davis fall back to maceDavis also never meet the " real " Leto either . Instead , she conform to   a guy she wanted topepper sprayin the face . “ It got so wild that there were times during filming that I had heart palpitations – not only centre palpitations but at one degree I tell , ‘ Did I endure from hearing loss ? ’ " We ca n’t even begin to see what that means .

He could n’t stop express joy on set . Karen Fukuhara , who act Katana inSuicide Squad , claimsthat Leto never responded to her questions or salutation on readiness . " Everything [ was ] like , ' Ha . Ha . Ha . Ha . Hi , pretty . ' I ’d be like , ' Hi , I ’m Karen , ' and he ’d be like , ' Haaaa . ' "

He sent Smith a box of bullets and a letter"Jared went ' full Joker , ' " Smith toldE ! . " And the rule is never go ' full Joker . ' "

suicide squad

Warner Bros. Pictures

He send Margot Robbie a love letter and a rat“At first I was like , ' This is disgusting , ' " Robbie say onThe Tonight Show . “It jump out at me , so I get a fright and got off to a boisterous start . " Despite co - star urging her to dispose of the brute , Robbie render it a habitation pull a fast one on out with a   rat - sized   pen , swoop , and hammock . She also grease one’s palms a collar for take the air the rat on set , which Jared Leto likely loved . The rat now exist with director Guillermo del Toro , apparently .

He send Adewale Akinnuoye - Agbaje " stickyPlayboymagazines"Leto ’s gifts upset the " Killer Croc " thespian in aunique mode . " It just was n’t right ! " Akinnuoye - Agbaje articulate . " If you ’re going to have that form of party , at least pay for the Croc ! Do n’t get off me dirty leftovers ! " Someone grab Viola Davis ' pepper spray .

Everyone received dirty condom and anal retentive beads"I did a deal of things to make a dynamic , an element of surprisal , spontaneity , to discover down any walls that may be there , " Leto toldE ! . " The Joker is someone who does n’t honour personal outer space or boundaries . " Jared Leto was theJudge - Reinhold - on - SeinfeldofSuicide Squad .

suicide squad

Warner Bros. Pictures

On his day off , Leto ship a video message and a drained hog to set"Basically , what he said was , ' Guys , I ca n’t be there but I desire you to sleep with I ’m doing my work as hard as you guys,'“recountedco - maven Adam Beach . After the crew played the message , one of Leto’s"henchmen"dropped a dead pig bed on a table . " It muck up our minds away , " Beach said . " We substantiate that day : this is real . " Holy hell .

Leto met with psychiatrists and emulate their most damaged patient role ' quirks“You do n’t love what the Joker is going to do next ; you never do , ” herevealedtoEntertainment Weekly . “ It was intoxicating to have no linguistic rule . ” Jared Leto is not a guy rope you want to get stuck playing five hours ofMonopolywith .

Leto gave everyone a dildo and a switchblade when they enclose shooting“The wrap talent was his fun way of getting back at all of us , ” FukuharatoldEW . “ I wanted to keep everything . ” Warning : Suicide Squadside effects may include an inclination to method act .

He always gave birth to himselfHey , director David Ayer’swords , not ours . “ He constantly has to give birth to himself ; he goes aside , he comes back , he shoot , he goes away … The Joker is something you have to be , and you’re able to see how tiring and painful it is for him to be this graphic symbol . But you’re able to finger it when he comes to body of work , the crowd feel it , everyone feels it . It ’s like the fowl stop flying . He ’s crashing terrifying . ”

He work like an brute in the dressing roomWhenSuicide Squadcostume graphic designer Rene Fontanafirst metLeto , he severalize her up front that he was go to " come in like the Joker . " improbably , Fontana did not resort to violence . " Sometimes he essay to terrorise us , but we ’re warm women . He was growling at us , and we ’d work back . ”

Leto spooked random city folk with his Joker cackle“I work on the laughter walking around the streets of New York and Toronto , and I kinda would walk around the streets and see what laughs would get under people ’s tegument , ” LetotoldSquawk Box . He ’s good , really – if a maniac laughter can freak out out a New Yorker , it belongs inSuicide Squad .

Leto claimed responsibility for the cast ’s uncollectible memoriesDuring rehearsals , Ayer asked each histrion to recall the dark moments in their lives . “ We all divvy up really deep stories about ourselves and our pains and our triumph , ” Smith said atSuicide Squad ’s San Diego Comic - Con venire . “ And then on Seth you thought he was being a squeamish guy you were seek to portion out your life , and then in the midriff of a scene he throws your puerility injury back at you and tell , ‘ Dude , the Joker did it . ' ”

signal up herefor our day-by-day Thrillist electronic mail , and get your fix of the best in food / drink / fun .