Highlights From Empire’s SUICIDE SQUAD Coverage: Jared Leto Talks Joker, New Details on Katana, Scene Description

We have more from Empire Magazine’s new issue, where Suicide Squad is the cover story. First up, we have a new interview (via Comic Book Movie) with Jared Leto, who plays The Joker in the film.

The Oscar winner went completely in character during the entirety of the movie’s shoot, and his interactions with the rest of the cast were…interesting, to say the least. Leto had this to say about staying in character. “There was definitely a period of…detachment. I took a pretty deep dive. But this was a unique opportunity and I couldn’t imagine doing it another way. It was fun, playing those psychological games. But at the same time it was very painful, like giving birth out of my prick hole.”

To prepare for the role, Leto listened to 1920s and read literature on shamans. Regarding how his Joker will be different from what has come before, he says, “I always get the sense that The Joker may be much older than people think. It’s something different. If you don’t break rules, you’re not going to strike new ground. I think I’ll be cooling down for the rest of my life.” Producer Charles Roven adds that Joker’s wardrobe is inspired by Mexican cartels, since the Clown Prince of Crime is now “More social…a very successful and smart businessman besides being a sociopath.”

Finally, Suicide Squad writer-director David Ayer weighs in, praising Leto and his “incredible” work on the film. “The Joker is the third rail of comic book movies. There’s a power to that character, and by some freaking miracle, through the incredible things Jared has done and the photography and all the other millions of things that went into it, we’ve cooked up something transcendent. He’s scary.”

In other Suicide Squad news, Empire (via CBM) has shared a description of a scene from the movie. The scene shows the Squad assembled in a helicopter, and it offers new details on Katana and her role in the film. Check out the description below, but beware of potential spoilers.

It kicks off with Deadshot, Diablo, Boomerang, Slipknot, Harley Quinn, and Killer Croc on board a Chinook helicopter, joined by a small cadre of Navy SEALs. Both they and Task Force X are led by Rick Flag, but it’s then that someone else joins them; Katana. The twist here however is that she’s actually a volunteer, and Flag’s bodyguard! Here’s the dialogue from the sequence:

“She’s got my back,” Flag informs the Squad. “I’d advise not getting killed by her – her sword traps the souls of its victims.” Harley extends her hand, perky and smirky. “Harley Quinn, nice to meetcha. Love your perfume. What is that: Stench of Death?”

That sounds perfect, but were you expecting Killer Croc to act as Suicide Squad’s comedic relief? Believe it or not, it sounds as if that’s the plan, with this scene also featuring him throwing up chunks of half digested goat meat on the floor of the helicopter. He then scoops it back up and shovels it into his mouth, something which makes the tough Navy SEALs recoil…Ayer hadn’t given them a heads up!

So, it looks like Katana’s Soultaker sword from the comics will feature in Suicide Squad. Very interesting.

Stay tuned for more news as we have it.

Suicide Squad is scheduled to hit theaters August 5th, 2016. The third installment in the DC Extended Universe stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Jay Hernandez and Karen Fukahara. David Ayer writes and directs.