Jared Leto was 'so furious at the new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix after his own performance in Suicide Squad that he tried to get the film killed'

  • The Oscar winner actor played the villain in the 2016 DC Comics adaptation
  • He is said to have tried to get his agents' help in killing the Warner Bros. project
  • Leto also reportedly asked his former music manager, Irving Azoff, to step in 
  • A source for Leto told The Hollywood Reporter he did not make the request
  • Joaquin Phoenix's Joker has been a hit with critics and audiences alike 

By LAUREN FRUEN and BRIAN GALLAGHER, US SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Jared Leto was so furious at the new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix after his own performance in the role that he tried to get the film canned, according to reports. 

The actor, 47, who played the villain in the 2016 DC Comics adaptation Suicide Squad, is said to have tried to get his agents' help in killing the Warner Bros. project.  

Oscar winner Leto contacted his representatives at CAA after hearing Todd Phillips’ version was in the pipeline, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The agency also look after Phillips and Leto is said to have tried and failed to use their help in stopping the movie from going ahead. 

He left for rival agency WME shortly afterwards. A source for the actor denied the two were linked but there are reports he had alienated four teams of agents at CAA by the time he moved on. 

Leto also reportedly asked his music manager, Irving Azoff, to get involved and to call Warners' parent company in an effort to halt the project.  

Warners and Azoff, who also no longer works with the star, both declined to comment. A spokesman for the actor denies he made the request.  

Jared Leto was reportedly so furious at the new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix after his own Suicide Squad performance in the role that he tried to get the film canned

Jared Leto was reportedly so furious at the new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix after his own Suicide Squad performance in the role that he tried to get the film canned

Warner Bros.' Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix has been a hit with critics and audiences alike

 Warner Bros.' Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix has been a hit with critics and audiences alike

The Warner Bros.' film has been a hit with critics and audiences alike. 

Leto has yet to publicly comment on the film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, showing how he morphs into a much different version of the Joker. 

He was previously said to have felt 'alienated and upset' after details of the film became public.   

After his role in Suicide Squad was cut down to ten minutes a source said: 'In his defense, it was never really his movie, but his attempt to 'invent' a place for himself in it backfired.' 

Leto spent months getting into character, sending a live rat to Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn, and bullets to Deadshot actor Will Smith.  

Leto portrayed the Joker in 2016's Suicide Squad, which fared well at the box office but was considered a misfire by critics with a measly 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Suicide Squad, which also featured an all-star cast including Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Viola Davis, opened big with $133.6 million at the box office.

However, it dropped off a whopping 67.4% in its second weekend en route to $325.1 million domestic and $746.8 million worldwide from a $175 million budget.

While Warner Bros. is moving forward with a sequel of sorts, dubbed The Suicide Squad, Leto will not be returning as the Joker.

Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller) and Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flagg) are the only Suicide Squad stars returning from the original movie.

James Gunn is directing, with a largely new cast including Idris Elba, Nathan Fillion, John Cena, Pete Davidson and Taika Waititi, among others. 

As for Joaquin Phoenix's turn as the Joker, it was much more critically-acclaimed, with the movie scoring a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

While it didn't open quite as big as Suicide Squad, the $96.2 million box office debut marked the largest opening weekend for any movie opening in October. 

Leto has yet to publicly comment on the film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, pictured, showing how he morphs into a much different version of the Joker

Leto has yet to publicly comment on the film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, pictured, showing how he morphs into a much different version of the Joker

Leto has acted sparingly since portraying the Joker in Suicide Squad, only starring in 2017's Blade Runner 2049 and 2018's The Outsider.

He is returning to the comic book realm next year starring as Dr. Michael Morbius in Sony's upcoming Morbius movie, slated for release July 31, 2020.

The actor is also currently filming Little Things, alongside a cast that includes Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Natalie Morales.

Leto has acted sparingly since portraying the Joker in Suicide Squad, only starring in 2017's Blade Runner 2049 and 2018's The Outsider. He currently filming Little Things, alongside a cast that includes Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Natalie Morales

Leto has acted sparingly since portraying the Joker in Suicide Squad, only starring in 2017's Blade Runner 2049 and 2018's The Outsider. He currently filming Little Things, alongside a cast that includes Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Natalie Morales

 

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