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The Joker’s got a brand new look. What does this tell us about Suicide Squad?

In the current race for total supremacy in the field of superhero movies, the dark horse has to be DC Comics’ Suicide Squad. The film is slated for a summer 2016 release but is trying to compete with bigger-name flicks, such as all of Marvel’s intimidating Cinematic Universe release calendar and the eventual Justice League film franchise.

To do this, the creators of the film have been generating buzz among fans by gradually leaking photos of cast members. While many non-comic fans might not know about the Suicide Squad — a team of super-villain mercenaries seeking to lessen their prison sentences by taking on the forces of evil themselves — the film has made it clear in the past few weeks that it will not be ignored.

This week, director David Ayer leaked a photo of the bulk of the main cast. The movie is currently boasting a mix of big-name and relatively unknown actors, as well as some major and lesser-known members of Task Force X. Less hardcore comic fans might not know about Captain Boomerang or El Diablo, but many fans were eager to see Will Smith as Deadshot and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.

Jared Leto’s Joker design was also released separately, which is perhaps the most startling part of the whole venture. While the Joker has had quite a few unique looks over the years — his on-screen debut was in 1966 — each has the same general idea and color scheme: white clown makeup with a big red smile and green hair. As his name implies, he’s supposed to resemble a joker or jester-like figure. Pretty simple.

Ayer’s Suicide Squad take on this look, however, has taken the concept in a completely different direction. The photo of Leto’s Joker shows him clutching his head and beaming in a pose similar to that of the Joker in Alan Moore’s defining work, Batman: The Killing Joke, but with several modern changes to the character’s appearance that make him appear more like a punk or a gangster.

Sure, the trademark green hair is still there, but there is little else about this look that truly screams “Joker.”. Instead of the white clown makeup that has come to define the character, Leto’s Joker appears simply pale. His eyes do have a sunken appearance, though the makeup surrounding his eyes is far lighter than that of Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight, which was messy and caked on. His lips are red, but nowhere near as distinct as Jack Nicholson’s Joker from the 1989 Batman.

His trademark smile has been given a makeover as well; instead of long pearly whites as the comics would suggest, his gaping mouth reveals fillings, caps and all other sorts of dental work. It’s an interesting choice that seems to indicate a more rugged lifestyle for this Joker.

Most surprising about this first look at the character is that it not only deviates from prior expectations of how the Joker should look in film, but it utterly smashes them. Much of the skin on his torso is exposed, revealing numerous tattoos of different styles and shapes across his chest and arms. It’s definitely a bit unsettling to see the Joker shirtless, especially since he’s become known since the Nolan film for his hands-off style of villainy. Wearing a suit indicates business; going shirtless implies a different sort of business altogether.

The tattoos themselves also tell a story. While the thin, spindly “ha ha” tattoos inked onto the Joker’s chest and forearm seem oddly appropriate for the character, some of the others look tacky and cheesy. The playing cards and skull joker head are similar to the premade designs plastered around tattoo shacks in tourist towns, but perhaps the most amusing one is cursive script “Damaged” on his forehead. It gives the photo the impression of a middle-schooler’s Photoshopped Myspace profile picture from 2005.

These leaked photos and the other promos have me wondering not only what to expect from the movie in terms of plot, but also in its handling of popular characters. It will be an interesting twist to see popular characters from the Batman universe presented separately from the Dark Knight himself.

Whether or not you’re sold on the team or the Joker’s new look, one thing is for sure: Ayer is certainly generating the right kind of buzz for Suicide Squad.