Even though the character has never actually been in the comic book ‘Suicide Squad’, The Joker– played by Jared Leto— has been getting the most buzz when it comes to Warner Brother’s upcoming movie based on the DC Comics’ version of the government-sponsored black ops team consisting of super villains, who volunteer to go on suicide missions in exchange for shortened prison sentences.

According to reports, this version of The Joker will borrow heavily from the classic 80s miniseries ‘The Dark Knight Returns,’ a tale many consider the definitive Batman/Joker story.

“He’s lean & scarred but his suit does have broad shoulders. Joker works out in his cell like an inmate when he is interrogated by Amanda Waller. He’s doing hand stand push ups so it makes sense that Jared Leto said he is putting on weight. He’s definitely not skinny, but in fact more muscular. He has bleached skin not make up.”

It should be pointed out that Ben Affleck‘s Batman has been described as being older and grizzled and Kevin Smith likened his uniform to Frank Miller’s version from ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ AND Jenna Malone has reportedly been cast as Carrie Kelly, so this would be in keeping with that.  It looks like the DC cinematic universe is going to align with this seminal graphic novel.

But that’s not all… there’s a reference to another classic Batman story– ‘A Death In The Family’:

“He’s killed one of Batman’s sidekicks, there is a lot of references to his past crimes. He kills a lot of people.”

So there will perhaps be references to The Joker killing Jason Todd, the second Robin that fans hated enough to call in and vote for him to be murdered via crowbar.  (Don’t worry, he got better.)

It was also mentioned that The Joker’s psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum will be Hugo Strange, another classic Batman villain.  Reportedly, the mad scientist character will have many scenes with both The Joker and Harley Quinn, who was The Joker’s psychiatrist in the comics.

What do you think?  Do you think the movie should follow ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ comic arc, an out-of-continuity story?  What about the death of a Robin?

Sources: Cinema Blend, Blastr