The Joker of the new DC Universe feels the closest he has ever been, and looking at which actors could play the Batman villain, a few emerge as potential best picks for the role. In the old DCEU movie franchise, Jared Leto gave life to the Joker. However, the actor’s take on the character was quite controversial, making a recast likely.

Additionally, James Gunn’s Peacemaker season 2 has poked fun at Leto’s band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, further making it seem like a new actor will be cast as the Joker. That is the natural path, with Ben Affleck also being replaced as Batman in DC’s upcoming movies. Now, set pH๏τos from Clayface confirm that the Joker is active in the DCU’s Gotham City.

With the villain loose on Gotham’s streets before Batman’s The Brave and the Bold movie comes around, there is a chance that the Joker could soon appear in the DCU. A few actors would be perfect for the Clown Prince of Crime, taking the role in a different direction from Leto’s for the DCU’s slate of projects. Here are possible Joker picks:

Jack Quaid

First, it is important to note that the list is in no specific order. With that out of the way, Jack Quaid has more than enough superhero franchise experience for a major role, like the Joker, after years of starring in the Prime Video hit series The Boys. Quaid is a popular The Flash fancast.

While he could work as a DCU hero, having Quaid let loose as a villain seems like a more surprising, and thus exciting, choice. After watching the actor play the manipulative secret villain of Companion, I know Quaid could bring out the intelligent and scary nature of the Joker to life.

David Dastmalchian

David Dastmalchian also has superhero experience at both Marvel and DC. The actor spoke to Collider about playing the Joker, calling it one of his “greatest career dreams.” James Gunn is known to cast actors who previously worked with him in his new projects, which would work for Dastmalchian.

Since Polka-Dot Man died in The Suicide Squad, the road is clear for the actor to take on the Joker. Dastmalchian’s career is filled with weirder characters and includes a few horror projects that make him an interesting pick for the Batman villain. He was an antagonist in The Dark Knight.

Bill Skarsgård

Bill Skarsgård is one of the most popular names among fans to play the Joker of James Gunn’s DC Universe. If IT franchise director Andy Muschietti remains attached to Batman’s The Brave and the Bold movie, I feel like the part is Skarsgård’s to lose. As Pennywise, he has shown his villainous talents.

Skarsgård can play creepy, manipulative characters with ease. There is an intensity that makes others uneasy in some of his other characters, such as his recent turn in the тιтle role in Nosferatu, that makes him perfect for the Joker. DC could really do no wrong with what is perhaps the most popular DCU Joker fancast.

Anthony Ingruber

Anthony Ingruber would be a left-field choice to play the Joker in the DCU. The actor does not have many huge credits to his name, but Ingruber certainly has the goods to make his Joker memorable. After all, he has already voiced the character in the past in two well-received Telltale Batman games.

Ingruber’s take on the Joker was fresh, following a storyline that could make him less of a villain depending on player choices. That said, the actor could take on the more evil version of the character just fine, though his DC experience would allow him to turn up one of the most layered Joker performances yet.

Jake Gyllenhaal

This one might be confusing to some, as Jake Gyllenhaal is a fan-favorite choice to play the DCU’s Batman, just like stars such as Jensen Ackles, Alan Ritchson, and Brandon Sklenar. While Gyllenhaal would certainly excel as the Dark Knight, he has played a few unpredictable characters that make him a solid Joker pick.

Nightcrawler shows how Gyllenhaal could make a manic version of the Joker shine in the DCU. The actor also has the star power to help the DCU as it gets started. In the MCU, he played Mysterio opposite Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, with a performance that showed his skills for a funny yet evil Joker.

Billy Magnussen