Thescreescore – The chaotic energy of Jared Leto’s Joker on screen was, it turns out, often mirrored by an equally unpredictable presence behind the scenes. Actor Ike Barinholtz, known for his role as Captain Hunter Griggs in David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad, recently offered a candid glimpse into an unsettling improvised moment with Leto that left him feeling distinctly uncomfortable during filming. This particular interaction sheds new light on the intense, and at times controversial, methods employed by Leto in his polarizing portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime.
Barinholtz, during a recent episode of his podcast Funny You Should Ask with Ike Barinholtz featuring Seth Meyers, recounted the scene where his character, Griggs, a Belle Reve prison officer, was being menaced by Joker. While Leto was reportedly "nice" out of character, the intensity ratcheted up considerably when the cameras rolled. The unscripted moment occurred when Leto, fully embodying the menacing Joker, straddled Barinholtz and spontaneously delivered the line, "Uh oh, did someone piss their pants?" Barinholtz, describing himself as a "yes-ander," instinctively responded "Yes," but later reflected on the experience as a "rough improv" that was "not cool." He elaborated on his discomfort, stating, "Like, ‘Oh, someone sh*t themselves.’ It’s not cool."
This off-script interaction aligns with the character’s on-screen persona, which frequently blurred lines of personal space and psychological torment. Leto’s Joker was designed to be a figure of pure, unsettling unpredictability. While the film never explicitly detailed the full extent of Joker’s intimidation tactics against Griggs, the implied violation and the character’s notorious reputation certainly made such a "piss their pants" scenario believable within the narrative. Ultimately, Griggs succumbed to Joker’s demands, facilitating contact with Harley Quinn, a move that Harley herself wryly acknowledged with the line, "You’re so screwed."
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Beyond his memorable turn in Suicide Squad, Barinholtz has maintained a strong presence in the DC universe, lending his voice to Lex Luthor in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and Harvey Dent/Two-Face in Batman: The Audio Adventures. His Suicide Squad ensemble included a star-studded cast featuring Will Smith as Deadshot, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, among others. Directed by David Ayer, with Geoff Johns contributing to reshoots, the film, released on August 5, 2016, faced a critical maelstrom similar to its DCEU predecessor, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Despite thescreescore.com‘s own review noting its "lively" aspects, it ultimately highlighted the film’s "plot holes and uneven execution." Nevertheless, Suicide Squad proved a commercial juggernaut, raking in over $749 million globally and even securing an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
As for their current endeavors, Barinholtz is slated to reprise his role as Sal Saperstein in The Studio season 2 for Apple TV and continues his work on the Netflix series Running Point, which is set for a third season. Meanwhile, Jared Leto can currently be seen bringing the iconic villain Skeletor to life in the Masters of the Universe adaptation.
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