Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan has revealed why she didn’t recast Jared Leto as The Joker for the film.
The Joker and Harley Quinn’s relationship has been pivotal to who they are as characters in the comics and that has quickly translated on the big scren. Jared Leto appeared as The Joker in Suicide Squad alongside Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and their relationship was as toxic as it was in the comics. Jared Leto’s portrayal of The Joker is one of the most loathed things about Suicide Squad, so the plot of Birds of Prey shouldn’t really shock anyone. In the film, Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn has broken up with Jared Leto’s version of The Joker and she’s looking to become her own person.
Birds of Prey hits theaters in about a week and the one question on everyone’s mind is if Jared Leto makes an appearance as The Joker in the film. We’ve seen the film and can confirm that he does not appear in it and is only mentioned throughout. Fans of Jared Leto’s Joker shouldn’t be alarmed, however, as he wasn’t recast for Birds Of Prey, and we finally know why thanks to director Cathy Yan.
Earlier today, we were at the junket for Birds of Prey and we got the chance to sit down with director Cathy Yan. During our interview, she opened up about why she didn’t recast Jared Leto as The Joker in the film. You can read what Cathy Yan had to say on the matter below.
“Well for us, I think the movie starts with the breakup and then it’s all about Harley and we just wanted to work with that and whatever we needed him to be… just to show that he existed and that there was a breakup, but the focus of the movie is definitely not on The Joker.”
What do you think about Jared Leto’s Joker not appearing in the movie? Are you excited to see Cathy Yan’s vision of the Birds of Prey? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
Here is the official synopsis for Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey:
“You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.”
Directed by Cathy Yan from a script penned by Bumblebee writer Christina Hodson, Birds of Prey stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz, Ewan McGregor as Black Mask, and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Ali Wong, Robert Catrini, and Michael Masini have also been cast in undisclosed roles.
Birds of Prey will be released in theaters on February 7, 2020. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey and the future of the DC Extended Universe.
