Actor Jared Leto has revealed he spent time with psychopaths as well as doctors and psychiatrists to prepare for his role as the Joker in upcoming movie Suicide Squad. 

The 44-year-old actor will take on the role of the supervillain in the upcoming superhero movie and pulled out all the stops to ensure his version of the character was suitably complex, reported Female First.

Talking about his research, he said, “(I met) people that were experts, doctors, psychiatrists that dealt with psychopaths and people who had committed horrendous crimes ... I spent some time with those people themselves, people who have been institutionalised.”

Also Read: Jared Leto accused of sexual assault by multiple women; actor-singer denies allegations

Leto remained in character throughout the filming process and was determined his version of the Joker would go in a “different direction” to that of the late Heath Ledger’s portrayal in 2008 motion picture The Dark Knight , and Jack Nicholson’s version in 1989’s Batman . 

“There had been such great work that we knew we had to go in a different direction,” the actor said.

Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis and Jai Courtney are also set to star in the movie.