Masters of the Universe Shows Jared Leto’s DCEU Misfire Was No Accident

Here we go again with Jared Leto, back in villain mode but swapping DC’s neon-soaked Gotham for the plastic fantasy of Eternia. Masters of the Universe has finally landed, and in a twist no one really asked for, Leto’s been cast as Skeletor. If you were secretly hoping his dodgy Joker was some sort of misunderstood masterpiece buried under studio meddling, well, this new turn as evil’s bony overlord isn’t doing him any favours.

The Jared Leto Joker Saga (Brief Recap)

Let’s rewind to 2016’s Suicide Squad. Back then, director David Ayer apparently wanted Leto’s Joker to play a much bigger part in the DCEU, including a whole subplot where Joker joined forces with Enchantress in the film’s climax. Most of that ended up on the cutting room floor, so the final result was a weird gangster Joker who loitered on the fringes, mugged a bit, and—except for those disturbing gifts sent to cast and crew—wasn’t memorable for the right reasons.

Since then, a vocal minority online have insisted all the best bits were deleted, that Leto’s Joker could have squared up to Heath Ledger’s legendary performance, if only we’d seen the full thing. Meanwhile, most people rolled their eyes and quietly moved on.

Skeletor Gets the Spotlight

Fast-forward to Masters of the Universe, and now there’s no studio hack-job to blame. Leto’s Skeletor actually gets time to strut his stuff. No caveats about screen time or stuff being left on the cutting room floor—this is his show. And yet, only the surface has changed. He’s swapped green hair for a skull face, but the act is painfully similar.

What’s Still Not Working?

• Leto goes all-in on brooding evil, but seems allergic to humour. Both Joker and Skeletor are, at their core, ridiculous, campy showmen. You’ve got to lean into the absurdity just as much as the menace—Leto sidesteps the fun entirely, doubling down on doom and gloom.
• The supporting cast have clearly read the brief. They know they’re in a film about beefy heroes and skull-headed weirdos. They’re having a bit of a laugh, winking at the camera. But Leto? It’s like he’s stuck in a one-man Hamlet audition.
• Leto’s Skeletor will build to an ominous monologue, gesture for effect… and then suddenly try to land a joke, all awkward beats and tumbleweed. He’s throwing out dramatic statements, then pausing too long for a punchline that never quite lands. The only saving grace is the CGI, because the digital animators have actually managed to give Skeletor more facial nuance than Leto manages in his vocal performance.

One (Accidental) Truth

Jared Leto’s defenders once said he’d nail a big, iconic villain role if only he got enough time and the right script. Well, Masters of the Universe hands him both—and the results are equally baffling. Sometimes, it really isn’t about screen time or deleted scenes. Sometimes, the problem is just the performance itself.

'Leto’s Skeletor delivers dramatic soliloquies, only to pause before attempting a punchline. This sudden shifting of gears ruins the flow of every scene he is in.'