Jared Letohas become famously picky when it comes to choosing acting roles over the past few years, especially since his band,30 Seconds to Mars, has taken off. But now that he has an Oscar under his belt forDallas Buyers Club, he’s no doubt in high demand, and the actor has chosen what will be his first acting project since inhabiting The Joker for the upcomingSuicide Squad. It was announced today that Leto will lead the action thrillerThe Outsider, which takes place in post-World War II Japan and follows an imprisoned American soldier who is released with the help of his Yakuza cellmate, only to find himself working to repay his debt in the dangerous criminal underworld.
Danish filmmakerMartin Zandvliet, who last helmed the German POW storyLand of Mine—which is on tap for an awards season release later this year—is set to directThe Outsider, marking his English-language debut. He’ll be working from a script byAndrew Baldwin, who penned the upcomingIdris Elbabuddy cop filmBastille Day, and production on the action-thriller is aiming to get underway this fall via Waypoint Entertainment and Linson Entertainment.
This marks only Leto’s second role sinceDallas Buyers Club, although heflirted with the idea of joiningthe star-studded ensemble for the bestseller adaptationThe Girl on the Train, which hasEmily Bluntstarring andLuke Evansfilling the role that Leto was eyeing. Warner Bros.’ plans for The Joker beyondSuicide Squadremain to be seen, but it’ll be interesting to see if Leto’s character returns for the sequel or if he’ll get a starring role oppositeBen Affleckin theinevitable standaloneBatmanfilm. Whatever the case, Leto is a method actor and chooses his projects carefully, so something aboutThe Outsidercertainly sparked to him.
