The Suicide Squad are making a comeback but one person might not be joining them.
Despite having a role in the first film from director David Ayer, Oscar winner Jared Leto has not been announced as returning to play The Joker in the sequel to Suicide Squad.
Margot Robbie is set to reprise her breakout role as Joker's on-off girlfriend Harley Quinn in the film - after an appearance in next year's Birds of Prey movie - alongside Viola Davis as Amanda Waller and Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg.
But why wouldn't Leto's divisive version of the character be in the film?
Well, sequel director James Gunn - best known for his work on the Guardians of the Galaxy movies - has responded to the question.
One follower asked Gunn in an Instagram Q and A: "How can you justify a Suicide Squad movie, that does not have a Joker in it?"
James Gunn wrote on his Instagram story: "No one but me and few others know all the characters in the movie, but if the Joker isn't in the film, I don't think it would be strange as he isn't a part of Suicide Squad in the comics".
So, it seems as if Gunn already has his reasoning in place for Leto to be absent from the film.
Gunn will also be returning to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for Marvel after work on DC Comics movie The Suicide Squad is complete.
Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix currently stars as The Joker in the gritty Todd Phillips film Joker.
The Suicide Squad is released in cinemas on August 6, 2021.
Would you want a return for Jared Leto as The Joker? Let us know in the comments below.
