Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Lewis Tan as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 star says the first movie was "kind of like a prequel", as the sequel finally features the tournament
andy serkis
Fantasy Movies Andy Serkis says he doesn't see a difference between game and movie acting: "Hollywood is using video game engines"
Adeline Rudolph as Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 stars on Kitana and Jade's "sisterhood" and making the deadly duo "more relatable"
Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat 2 writer called up co-creator Ed Boon for advice on the "best fatalities and stages" to put in the sequel
Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil
Horror Movies New Resident Evil movie takes place "on the periphery" of Resident Evil 2, and everything else we learned from the set
Michael Johnston as Bear in Obsession
Horror Movies Obsession's Curry Barker on finding his own way to frighten horror fans and leaning into the "modern jumpscare"
Sebastian Stan as Bucky in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
DC Movies Harvey Dent might be ripped in The Batman 2 as new video of Sebastian Stan training for his DC role hits the internet
Resident Evil 4 leon
Horror Movies Resident Evil movie director Zach Cregger reveals the Resident Evil 4 Easter egg he snuck into the trailer
Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil
Horror Movies Zach Cregger says Resident Evil will be "structurally unique" and "weird"
Fantastic Four (2015)
Marvel Movies 2015's Fantastic Four writer says he "wasn't privy to whatever drama happened on set"
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 trailer screenshot of Gustav
RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gustave actor says Sandfall "should get Robert Pattinson to play the part" for the movie
A man looking straight ahead during one of the best Xbox Series X games, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gustave actor had no idea fans could love game characters as much as they do those in movies
Man-Spider in Spider-Noir
Marvel TV Shows New Spider-Noir trailer gives first look at Man-Spider and impressive taste of Nic Cage in action
Robert Downey Jr. during the Doctor Doom announcement at Marvel's SDCC 2024 panel
Marvel Movies Robert Downey Jr. says he did "dream work" with Vanessa Kirby to help get into character for Avengers: Doomsday
Soldier Boy and Homelander in Vought HQ during The Boys season 5
Superhero Shows Homelander actor Antony Starr went full method after a phone went off during The Boys season 5 filming
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Superhero Movies

Morbius director Daniel Espinosa talks Jared Leto staying in character: "I almost never saw him getting into the role"

News
By Molly Edwards published 29 March 2022

Exclusive: Morbius director Daniel Espinosa talks Jared Leto's method acting

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Jared Leto and Daniel Espinosa filming Morbius
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Jared Leto's reputation for method acting precedes him – and his latest film, the Sony/Marvel venture Morbius, naturally involved the actor going deep into his role. 

Leto's last foray into the superhero genre was 2016's Suicide Squad, in which he played the Joker. Rumors swirled about the strange gifts Leto was sending his co-stars while in character as the Clown Prince of Crime, including a live mouse for co-star Margot Robbie.

But how did Leto approach getting into character as a living vampire? We asked Morbius director Daniel Espinosa just that. 

You may like
  • Scytale standing among the Fremen I can't wait to see Robert Pattinson in Dune 3 – it's about time he played a blockbuster villain
  • Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir Nicolas Cage wanted to play his 1930s superhero detective in Spider-Noir like a "spider pretending to be a person"
  • Christian Bale as Frank in The Bride Christian Bale on exploring the more "comedic" sides of Frankenstein's monster in new sci-fi horror The Bride

"I almost never saw him getting into the role, it was more that Michael Morbius was on set," Espinosa tells GamesRadar+. "The moment he would exit his trailer, it would no longer be Jared Leto, and he would not want to be spoken to as Jared Leto. He's a very committed actor."

In Espinosa's opinion, that's a strength. "He's right in many ways," the director continues. "It's hard to hold on to character, so that being it during the whole day gives him a certain kind of freedom. Because, what many people, when they talk about Jared, they talk about the effort and how hard it is. But what's fun with working with Jared is that it's also very light and easy, because he is that person, so he can go anywhere." 

Morbius follows Leto's titular character, who is a doctor afflicted with a rare blood disease. In pursuit of a cure, he accidentally contracts a far worse condition – vampirism. 

The film releases in US theaters this April 1, and UK cinemas this March 31. While you wait, check out our guide to all of 2022's upcoming major movie release dates for everything else the year has in store, and see more from our interviews with Espinosa and Matt Smith.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Molly Edwards
Molly Edwards
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film section. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

Read more
Scytale standing among the Fremen
Sci-Fi Movies I can't wait to see Robert Pattinson in Dune 3 – it's about time he played a blockbuster villain
 
 
Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir
Superhero Shows Nicolas Cage wanted to play his 1930s superhero detective in Spider-Noir like a "spider pretending to be a person"
 
 
Christian Bale as Frank in The Bride
Horror Movies Christian Bale on exploring the more "comedic" sides of Frankenstein's monster in new sci-fi horror The Bride
 
 
Astarian looking pensive with his hand resting on his chin in Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 actor has avoided roles that were "just like" Astarion, as that's what David Bowie would do
 
 
andy serkis
Fantasy Movies Andy Serkis says he doesn't see a difference between game and movie acting: "Hollywood is using video game engines"
 
 
A screenshot of Orphan of Kos in its introductory cutscene in Bloodborne's The Old Hunters DLC.
Animated Movies Jacksepticeye addresses the Bloodborne movie and his unexpected role: "I'm a producer, I'm not the writer or director"
 
 
Latest in Superhero Movies
Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises
DC Movies Peacemaker and Superbad director is reportedly the top choice to direct a possible Deathstroke and Bane movie for DC
 
 
Sebastian Stan as Bucky in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
DC Movies Harvey Dent might be ripped in The Batman 2 as new video of Sebastian Stan training for his DC role hits the internet
 
 
Katee Sackhoff as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, aiming a gun, in Battlestar Galactica.
Sci-Fi Shows Paramount Plus just added the best sci-fi show of the 2000s to its library
 
 
James Gunn and Matthew Lillard on the set of Man of Tomorrow
DC Movies Superman sequel adds Matthew Lillard to its cast, and everyone thinks he’s playing DC’s silliest superhero
 
 
Robert Downey Jr. on stage at CinemaCon 2026 for Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel Movies When it comes to Avengers: Doomsday spoilers, Russo brothers say they "can't control everything"
 
 
Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel Movies Invincible creator Robert Kirkman has no love for Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man sequel: "[It's] dogsh**t"
 
 
Latest in News
Nintendo Switch 2 running Pokemon Pokopia on a wooden shelf with a Pikachu figure
Hardware Nintendo announces brand new choose-your-own Switch 2 bundle a week after unveiling price increase plans
 
 
Devil May Cry
Animated Shows Devil May Cry season 2 is not a "do-over" of the divisive Devil May Cry 2
 
 
The black LiberNovo Maxis chair from behind
Gaming Chairs LiberNovo is expanding its chair family by introducing an "entry level" non-electric model
 
 
GTA 6 Lucia
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 Trailer 3 copium is at an all-time high with fans convinced today "might actually be the day"
 
 
Henry Cavill
Live Action Movies Amazon's upcoming live-action Voltron movie starring Henry Cavill will not get a theatrical run
 
 
the legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time
The Legend of Zelda As The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time remake rumors swirl, Nintendo boss teases "titles beyond those already announced"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Nintendo Switch 2 running Pokemon Pokopia on a wooden shelf with a Pikachu figure
    1
    Nintendo announces brand new choose-your-own Switch 2 bundle a week after unveiling price increase plans
  2. 2
    Lego Minas Tirith might be the most damn impressive Lego set I've ever seen
  3. 3
    "A range of new chairs to suit different needs" - LiberNovo is expanding its chair family by introducing an "entry level" non-electric model, and somehow, a "Pro" version
  4. 4
    Hasbro CEO says "you should expect more" crossovers for D&D
  5. 5
    We finally have a price tag for the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, but that RTX 5070 Ti rig is going to be difficult to justify

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...