Amidst the predictable furore around Jared Leto’s forthcoming depiction of the Joker in Suicide Squad, it’s worth noting that Heath Ledger was once ‘no Heath Ledger’ too…
Images of Leto in the sadistic japester’s garb have been welcomed with much chagrin as loyal fans see Ledger’s creepy depiction as the template to follow.
The Suicide Squad wishes you a Happy Anniversary Mr. J! #Joker75 #SuicideSquad @WarnerBrosEnt @DCComics pic.twitter.com/LZXz0x947Q
— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) April 25, 2015
But it wasn’t always that way. Back in 2006, the internet was far from impressed with the late actor’s casting, as displayed in the compendium below.
Ledger had just earned rave reviews for his performance in Brokeback Mountain, but he was still thought of as something of a pretty boy teen idol.
Angry comments such as ‘Ledger has the charisma of a lettuce leaf’ and ‘some little twerp who got lucky’ may seem laughable now, but these were hardly rare sentiments back in the day.
Perhaps it’s worth giving Leto the benefit of the doubt.
(H/T GeekTyrant)
