Earlier today, Forbes published a report under the headline “Why The Future Of DCEU Movies Looks Brighter Than Ever,” and amongst the various insights offered in the piece is the suggestion that this future won’t contain a whole lot of Jared Leto’s Joker.
In the midst of discussing James Gunn’s plans for The Suicide Squad, which is apparently unlikely to see the return of Harley Quinn, the report adds that the previously planned Joker and Harley film has “fallen by the wayside,” and that the same can be said for the Joker solo movie. Given how long it’s been since we’ve heard any encouraging announcements about either of those projects, the news certainly doesn’t come as particularly surprising, but perhaps the larger implication of these claims is that Leto’s run as the Joker might already be finished.
Indeed, fans have speculated for a while now that Gunn’s tense history with Leto makes the actor unlikely to come back for the Suicide Squad sequel. And between Leto’s reported discontent about the Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie, his planned run as Morbius in Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters, and the all-round lack of potential Joker vehicles on the DCEU’s schedule, the star’s future in the franchise certainly isn’t looking too promising.
Even the title of the upcoming Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) highlights writer Christina Hodson’s intention to get Margot Robbie’s character out from under the shadow of the Joker. Overall, it’s clear that the Warner Bros. franchise is going through a period of transition, and while Leto’s departure has yet to be confirmed, it’s looking like a safe bet that the next comic book flick you see the actor in will be a Sony movie.
