Let’s be honest… Jared Leto wasn’t a great Joker in a mediocre movie. His Heath Ledger ripoff was underwhelming and very overhyped. We’d love a new actor in that iconic role, and here are five actors we think could pull it off.
5. Jake Gyllenhall
Hear us out – Jake Gyllenhall was CRAZY in Nightcrawler! Probably the most haunting performance of 2014, this rising star played an insane reporter willing to do whatever he needs to do in order to get footage of crimes. Maybe not the most “Joker” role ever, but he had the same level of creepiness and insanity that people like Heath Ledger and Mark Hamill maintain throughout their performances. He could pull off a weird and eerie but still fun and enjoyable performance as the Clown Prince of Crime.
4. Daniel Day Lewis
Daniel Day Lewis is an ACTOR. The man transforms into his roles completely and becomes devoured by their personality and characteristics. His Performance would be the Joker. He would study the character word for word and nail everything about him. He wouldn’t just go above and beyond, he’d go all out and give the exact performance we have always wanted for this role.
3. Jesse Eisenberg
Yes, Jesse Eisenberg did already play a villain in another overhyped, less than mediocre movie (Batman vs. Superman), but because his overall impressive performance in 2013’s Now You See Me, we think that he deserves a second chance in the superhero movie game. He mostly plays quippy and strange characters, which would make him great to be the Joker, though he could also be a terrific Riddler.
2. Andrew Scott
Come on, it’s Moriarty–you’ve got to love him. He was the best villain in Sherlock, and he would be great for the Joker. He did an amazing job acting crazy and super evil at the same time. Moriarty is practically The Joker with way less makeup. He was also the villain in Spectre for the newest James Bond movie. Once again he performed as a crazy (but not as crazy Moriarty) villain. With all of the insane acting he’s done we think he could pull off the role with ease.
1. Helena Bonham Carter
This choice may be a bit weird for people who don’t read comic books, so let us describe Flashpoint, a comic created in 2011. In this story, Flash goes back in time to save his mother, which in turn changes the course of history, such as Wonder Woman being evil, and Superman being a lab rat and super weak. This also changes Batman’s story. Instead of Thomas and Martha Wayne getting shot, Bruce Wayne dies instead, which causes Martha to go insane and become… a female Joker. Why Helena? Good question. The answer is: Ophelia, Bellatrix LeStrange, every other role she has ever played. She happily plays some crazy characters and would pull off the complete lack of common sense flawlessly and be the most demented and twisted Joker ever. She would be 100% amazing.