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Here's the actor who's taking over the role of the 'Batman' Joker

'Dallas Buyers Club' actor Jared Leto has reportedly signed on to portray what many consider Batman's greatest enemy in the upcoming DC Comics movie 'Suicide Squad.'

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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Actor Jared Leto has reportedly signed on to play the Joker in the DC Comics film 'Suicide Squad.'

We now know for sure what actors will be starring in the upcoming DC Comics film "Suicide Squad," including who's taking on the iconic role of the "Batman" villain the Joker.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, actor Jared Leto, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar last year for his role in the film "Dallas Buyers Club," will play the Joker, as was previously rumored, while "After Earth" actor Will Smith will take on the role of Deadshot, who also often goes up against Batman. "The Wolf of Wall Street" actress Margot Robbie will portray Harley Quinn, the love interest of the Joker, while "The Drop" actor Tom Hardy will take on the role of Rick Flag, who heads up the group. (Yes, “Batman” fans, Hardy has previously played another DC character, the villain Bane in the 2012 Christopher Nolan film “The Dark Knight Rises.” However, this isn’t the first time this has happened – remember when actor Chris Evans, who currently plays Captain America in the Marvel movies, was the Human Torch in the “Fantastic Four” movie series?)

Jai Courtney of "Divergent" will play the villain Boomerang, a frequent enemy of The Flash, while "Anna Karenina" actress Cara Delevingne will play the character Enchantress.

In "Squad," supervillains take on jobs for the government and receive more lenient punishments in return (think the film "The Dirty Dozen"). The movie is set to be directed by David Ayer, who was also behind the October film "Fury," and Ayer will also be penning the script, according to the Hollywood Reporter. 

Predictably, the decision to cast Leto as the Joker is receiving the most attention. Actor Heath Ledger last took on the role for a big-screen “Batman” adaptation, portraying the villain in the 2008 movie “The Dark Knight” and winning a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work.

MTV writer Josh Wigler was pleased with the decision, writing, “This is going to be fun.”

“Leto transforms himself for his roles,” he wrote. “He’s up for anything, and that’s what you need from your Joker… How can anyone follow Heath Ledger’s iconic turn as the Joker?... If nothing else, [Leto is] confident enough to take this legendary character for a ride. Let’s see what he’s got.”

However, Washington Post writer Justin Moyer wrote that “Heath Ledger… has been dead for six years, but it feels too soon for this.” 

“Squad” will be released in 2016. 

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