The Joker isn’t the Joker: A Batman v Superman/Suicide Squad fan theory is blowing minds

Has Robin turned evil?

An eagle-eyed DC fan has put forward an interesting theory about the identity of Jared Leto’s psychotic Joker in Suicide Squad, pointing to what they see as evidence that the villain is in fact Batman’s former ally Robin.

In a Reddit post that has provoked a huge debate, it is posited that the Joker is Jason Todd, the second Robin.

This theory has been rumbling for a while, but is bolstered by the apparent puncture wounds on both Robin’s suit in the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer and the Joker’s shoulders in an official Suicide Squad promo pic:

Of course, the similarities could be coincidence, and the marks on Leto could be moles, but the idea of Robin assuming the Joker’s mantle is interesting nonetheless, and not unprecedented.

In the DC Extended Universe’s Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the Joker brainwashed former Robin Tim Drake into taking over from him after he died, so it’s possible the new films are picking up on and repurposing this plot strand.

It would serve to tie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad together quite nicely, which open in cinemas on 25 March, 2016 and 5 August, 2016 respectively.