Jared Leto shaves beard, cuts hair short for Joker role

Oscar-winner Jared Leto, who will play Joker in "Suicide Squad", has shaved his beard and cut his long locks for the role.

The movie's director David Ayer posted on Twitter a photograph that showed a pair of hands ready to clip Leto's ponytail with scissors, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"Should we? #SuicideSquad," he captioned the image.

In another photograph, the "Dallas Buyers Club" actor is seen with short hair and a clean shaven face.

Apart from shaving his beard and cutting his hair, Leto has also gained weight for his role, which was last played on screen by late actor Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight".

Leto is joined in the cast ensemble by Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, and Cara Delevingne as Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Boomerang, and Enchantress respectively. Viola Davis is set to play the role of Amanda Waller, the formidable agent who runs the covert team.

"Suicide Squad", which will go on the floors in April, is expected to release on August 5, 2016.