Jared Leto is set to portray the Joker in the upcoming film "Suicide Squad" and one of the most notable differences between this Joker and previous portrayals is his design, particularly the tattoos on his body. Yahoo! reveals that director David Ayer has given a thorough explanation regarding the look of the Joker.
Yahoo! journalists visited the set back in July 2015 and it was during this time that Ayer gave a more in-depth revelation regarding how they designed the Joker's appearance. The information was not shared until most recently given that the film is now past production and is set to be released this August.
"If a guy like him really existed today, where would he come from? How would he do business? Who would he know? What would he look like? In my mind, I took a lot of inspiration from drug lords on Instagram. It's a great way to understand the lifestyle of a villain," stated the director.
According to Cinema Blend, this iteration of the Joker resembles a modern crime lord more than the classic and more traditional make-up wearing gangster seen in previous movies.
The director continued to explain that all of the tattoos have their own meaning and that there will be numerous Easter eggs, even the "Damaged" tattoo seen on the Joker's forehead. He also stated that fans will quickly decipher what they all mean once the movie comes out.
Cinema Blend continues to point out that the tattoos are a good means of giving the audience a sneak peek at the Joker's past without having to resort to direct exposition via dialogue or flashbacks. It is undetermined how much of these backstories within his tattoos will be explored in the context of "Suicide Squad" and the solo "Batman" movie.
"Suicide Squad" opens in theaters this Aug. 5.
