After his much publicised “method” stunts on the set of Suicide Squad – which reportedly saw him sending his co-stars gifts such as dead rats, used condoms and anal beads – director Denis Villeneuve has been talking to the Wall Street Journal about the Oscar winner’s approach to his role in Blade Runner 2049.
Leto is set to portray the character of Niander Wallace, a blind replicant creator, in the hotly-anticipated sci-fi sequel, and Villeneuve has revealed that Leto wore custom made contact lenses throughout the entire shoot, which rendered him blind during the production.
“We all heard stories about Jared, how he transforms into the characters, but even this didn’t prepare me for what was to come. He entered the room, and he could not see at all. He was walking with an assistant, very slowly. It was like seeing Jesus walking into a temple. Everybody became super silent, and there was a kind of sacred moment. Everyone was in awe. It was so beautiful and powerful—I was moved to tears. And that was just a camera test! That, for me, was insane. But he really created something. Every time Jared came on set, it was a boost of energy, tension and excitement.”
SEE ALSO: Watch a Blade Runner 2049 prequel short film starring Jared Leto
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
Blade Runner 2049 is set for release on October 6th and sees Harrison Ford reprising the role of Rick Deckard alongside Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto and Edward James Olmos.
Originally published September 11, 2017. Updated April 17, 2018.
