It's getting close now... the one year anniversary of the release of DC's Suicide Squad, which turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the summer. The film itself, whilst being a big failure had so many individual problems in it. I think one that many agree on was Jared leto's interpretation of the greatest comic book villain of all time, the Joker. And whilst I was optimistic for his performance, despite not being overly keen on his design, I cringed everytime he came on screen. It was a painful performance and I was deeply shamed to say that I thought this performance would go well. Now, Matt Reeves' upcoming solo Batman movie rumours to have the Joker return, played by Jared Leto once again. I'm not sure if I want this to be the case.

Now don't get me wrong, everything else I've seen Leto in, such as Dallas Buyers Club, Fight Club and Requiem for a Dream, he pulls off a spectacular performance every time, which is why I hoped Leto would do well in Suicide Squad. But what it came down to was a Joker that was 'ripped' unlike many other interpretations, he was a ghetto style gangster (that 'Purple Lamborghini' video did no justice at all) and he sniffed, snorted and sometimes barked like a dog. Of course, we know all the weird things Leto did offset, but that I want to push away. It was just an awkward performance. It was the most different Joker I'd ever seen and I hated it. Aside from his laugh (which is, ironically, my favourite Joker laugh in credit to Leto) I just don't know how you could make such a unique character into a weasel-like ghetto/rap icon. What happened?

Maybe blame isn't fair on Leto, for the most part. Director David Ayer screwed up the film entirely, and was responsible for the Joker's lack of screen time, which may have helped Leto in his favour if it was longer (probably not) - aswell as his design. What disheartens me the most was the idea that Ayer set up for his Joker, in which he screws up the continuity. He says that the Joker gained his tattoos after the murder of Robin, where Batman beat up Joker to a pulp, and Joker got his tattoos to tell the Bat that he 'damaged' him or whatever. Anyway we see in Harley's introductory scene that she was an aid in killing Robin. However in the film where we see Harley and Joker meet, he already has his tattoos - giving away the fact the death of Robin has already happened - but Harley helped and they've just met? The fact that the continuity has been messed up already doesn't give me faith in going through this story at a later date in a future film.

Now the said to be villain of Matt Reeves' solo Batman flick will be Deathstroke, played by Joe Manganiello, but it is heavily rumoured and most likely possible that Jared Leto's Joker will appear in the film. Part of me wants to see more but part of me is very skeptical about it. If he were to appear, and while it would make things odd, a recast wouldn't go amiss. Ray Wise or Jake Gyllenhaal would be my picks, but I don't see a recast happening in the slightest. It's a shame that we could be stuck with this awful interpretation. And I get it, some people may like him, and more power to you. But I know that for most people, this one is hated. I've read online some people believe he is just as good as Heath Ledger... to those I say, why would you even consider that thought?

It may be a very long time before we get a new Joker, this one really wasn't the one we hoped for at all. Now I love the character but this, as with the rest of the film, was a mistake. Whether it is the fault of Ayer or Leto, it has happened. I guess what could redeem him is a showdown with Ben Affleck's Batman, but then again, it might not. After seeing Wonder Woman and how much I liked it, it's hard to imagine this cringe fest of a character in the same universe that something like Wonder Woman is set in. Props to Leto for enjoying his work, but if this same character continues into the DCEU the way it was in Suicide Squad, then I truly think nobody will be laughing at all.