It's safe to say Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto is going full method in his portrayal of one of comic-book history's most iconic villains. According to actor Adam Beach, who plays Slipknot, Leto gifted his costars with a rat, bullets, and a dead hog. "He sent [Margot Robbie] a nice love letter with a black box with a rat in it — a live rat," Beach told E! News. "It was beautiful. Then he sent bullets to Will [Smith] with a letter." Beach also added that Leto sent the cast a dead hog and a video message promising his dedication to the film. "Basically, what he said was, 'Guys, I can't be there but I want you to know I'm doing my work as hard as you guys.' The video he showed is in character. It blew our minds away. Then we realized that day, this is real."
Leto himself has said that he's taking the Joker very seriously. "The work that's been done on this character by so many people before me has been so impactful, so incredible, so much fun, so profound, so risky, that it's a very special thing to be asked to take on that responsibility," he told Entertainment Weekly, before adding, "It's a weighty thing to do. But it's exciting. The Joker is one of those roles. He was written brilliantly when he was first shared with the world 75 years ago, or something crazy like that. And I think I'm just really grateful I had the opportunity."
